Reversible hypercholesterolaemia produced by cholesterol-free fish meal protein diets.
Groups of rabbits were fed isonitrogenous diets containing 30% soya, milk or whitefish meal protein and at least 130 g/kg of added fat for 1 year. Mean serum cholesterol values in fish meal animals (13.4 +/- 2.4 mmol/l) were substantially greater than for soya (3.0 +/- 0.2 mmol/l) or milk (4.6 +/- 0.7 mmol/l). Fish meal rabbits developed extensive aortic atherosclerosis (c. 70% surface involvement) which histologically showed both fibrous and foam cell intimal thickening and destruction and calcification of medial elastic tissue. In a second experiment fish meal was given with either saturated (coconut oil) or unsaturated (maize oil) fat. A similar degree of hypercholesterolaemia developed in each group and was rapidly reversed when a soya protein-low fat diet was substituted. This model may therefore be of value in studies of the progression and regression of experimental atherosclerosis.
D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000473:pathology; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000473:pathology; D004036:Diet, Atherogenic; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005396:Fish Products / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008297:Male; D008892:Milk / Q000009:adverse effects; D011817:Rabbits; D013025:Glycine max / Q000009:adverse effects
D004041:Dietary Fats