title: The hyperlipidemic hamster as an atherosclerosis model.
abstract: The descending thoracic and abdominal aortas of normal and hypercholesterolemic Golden Syrian hamsters were examined with transmission electron microscopy and immunofluorescence microscopy. Serum cholesterol distribution in lipoproteins was determined by gradient ultracentrifugation. Luminal surfaces appeared free of lesions and no intimal thickening or foam cells were seen. The main rise of cholesterol during the hypercholesterolemic diet was in the VLDL + IDL fraction. These findings suggest differences in the localization of atherosclerotic lesions and lipoprotein cholesterol distribution between humans and hamsters, which hamper the use of this species as a model for human atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: S T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Nikkari
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Solakivi
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Jaakkola
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity; D000074263:Coconut Oil; D006224:Cricetinae; D004036:Diet, Atherogenic; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008647:Mesocricetus / Q000097:blood; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D008074:Lipoproteins; D010938:Plant Oils; D002784:Cholesterol; D000074263:Coconut Oil