Characterization of a novel model for atherosclerosis imaging: the apolipoprotein E-deficient rat.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The apolipoprotein E-deficient (apoE^-/-) mouse is a well-established model for studying atherosclerosis. However, its small size limits its use in longitudinal positron emission tomography (PET) imaging studies. Recently, the apoE^-/- rat has emerged as an alternative. With this study, we investigate the feasibility of using apoE^-/- rats as an in vivo model for longitudinal atherosclerotic PET/CT imaging.

Results

ApoE^-/- rats showed significantly higher [¹⁸F]FDG uptake than controls in the aortic arch (+ 18.5%, p < 0.001) and abdominal aorta (+ 31.0%, p < 0.001) at weeks 12, 26, and 51. ApoE^-/- rats exhibited hypercholesterolemia, as evidenced by plasma cholesterol levels that were up to tenfold high

SUBMITTER: Sijbesma JWA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10713960 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature