Atherosclerosis Models

Several rabbit models of atherosclerosis are available. Rabbits can be fed a high cholesterol diet for 4 or more weeks and plasma cholesterols and aortic lesion composition (cholesterol content, expression of MMP-1, etc), and aortic lesion size measured, the latter by determining mean lesion area and % encroachment into lumen. Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic rabbits can also be used.