Comprehensive Analysis of 1-Year-Old Female Apolipoprotein E-Deficient Mice Reveals Advanced Atherosclerosis with Vulnerable Plaque Characteristics.

ABSTRACT: Apolipoprotein E-knockout (Apoe-/-) mice constitute the most widely employed animal model of atherosclerosis. Deletion of Apoe induces profound hypercholesterolemia and promotes the development of atherosclerosis. However, despite its widespread use, the Apoe-/- mouse model remains incompletely characterized, especially at late time points and advanced disease stages. Thus, it is unclear how late atherosclerotic plaques compare to earlier ones in terms of lipid deposition, calcification, macrophage accumulation, smooth muscle cell presence, or plaque necrosis. Additionally, it is unknown how cardiac function and hemodynamic parameters are affected at late disease stages. Here, we used a comprehensive analysis based on histology, fluorescence microscopy, and Doppler ult

SUBMITTER: Kotsovilis S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10816800 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature