Microminipig, a non-rodent experimental animal optimized for life science research:novel atherosclerosis model induced by high fat and cholesterol diet.
Atherosclerotic lesions were observed in male and ovariectomized female Microminipig (MMP) fed a high fat and cholesterol diet with sodium cholate (HFCD/SC) for 3 months. HFCD/SC induced hypercholesterolemia accompanied by an increase in serum total cholesterol (T-Cho), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and cholesterol ester (CE). Unlike the mouse or rabbit, a dominant LDL-C fraction in the intact MMP, similar to that in humans, was observed by serum lipoprotein analysis. HFCD/SC increased body weight gain. At the end of the experiment, computed tomography scans of conscious animals showed that HFCD/SC had decreased liver attenuation values (Hounsfield unit) and increased subcutaneous and abdominal fat, suggesting the induction of fatty liver and obesity. HFCD/SC induced atherosclerotic lesions in systemic arteries, including the external and internal iliac arteries, abdominal aorta, coronary artery, and cerebral arterial circle. Atherosclerosis and pathological findings induced by HFCD/SC in MMP were similar to those in humans. The MMP is a potentially suitable tool for investigating human atherosclerosis.
Department of Veterinary Experimental Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan.
Hiroaki
H
Kawaguchi
Noriaki
N
Miyoshi
Naoki
N
Miura
Makoto
M
Fujiki
Masahisa
M
Horiuchi
Yasukatsu
Y
Izumi
Hiroaki
H
Miyajima
Ryoichi
R
Nagata
Kazuhiro
K
Misumi
Toru
T
Takeuchi
Akihide
A
Tanimoto
Hiroki
H
Yoshida
D000818:Animals; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology; D001947:Breeding; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004036:Diet, Atherogenic; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D013552:Swine; D013556:Swine, Miniature
D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D004041:Dietary Fats; D008055:Lipids; D002784:Cholesterol