Regression of early cholesterol-induced aortic lesions in rhesus monkeys.
The reversibility of early uncomplicated cholesterol-induced aortic lesions in rhesus monkeys was investigated. Three groups of Rhesus monkeys were used: the control group was fed a chow diet for 8 weeks; the progression group was fed an atherogenic diet for 8 weeks and the regression group was fed an atherogenic diet for 8 weeks and returned to the chow diet for 16 weeks. The lesions produced in the progression animals characteristically contained many lipid-laden monocytes immediately beneath the endothelium, abundant lipid droplets in intimal smooth muscle cells and moderate amounts of lipid in the extracellular spaces. Lesions in regression animals contained few lipid-laden monocytes, less lipid in smooth muscle cells and larger and more numerous lipid particles in the extracellular spaces. The results indicate that aortic lesions can be produced predictably after 8 weeks of feeding a high-cholesterol diet and that qualitative changes in the lesions occur 16 weeks after withdrawal from the diet.
D000818:Animals; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000473:pathology*; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D004036:Diet, Atherogenic; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000378:metabolism; D000882:Haplorhini; D002479:Inclusion Bodies; D008251:Macaca; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009000:Monocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000473:pathology
D004041:Dietary Fats; D003094:Collagen; D002784:Cholesterol