Hyperlipidemia and atherosclerotic lesion development in Ldlr-deficient mice on a long-term high-fat diet.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Mice deficient in the LDL receptor (Ldlr(-/-) mice) have been widely used as a model to mimic human atherosclerosis. However, the time-course of atherosclerotic lesion development and distribution of lesions at specific time-points are yet to be established. The current study sought to determine the progression and distribution of lesions in Ldlr(-/-) mice.

Methodology/principal findings

Ldlr-deficient mice fed regular chow or a high-fat (HF) diet for 0.5 to 12 months were analyzed for atherosclerotic lesions with en face and cross-sectional imaging. Mice displayed significant individual differences in lesion development when fed a chow diet, whereas those on a HF diet developed lesions in a time-dependent and site-selective manner. Specifically, mice subjected to

SUBMITTER: Ma Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3338468 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature