title: Impact of chronic simulated snoring on carotid atherosclerosis in rabbits.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Chronic simulated snoring was induced in rabbits to determine the impact of snoring on the development of atherosclerosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The pressure wave of induced snoring at the carotid bifurcation of rabbits was acquired by gently pressing the airway. This wave was then simulated using custom-made mechanical devices. Twelve rabbits were used in this study, seven of which were assigned to the experimental group and the remaining five formed the control group. All of the rabbits were raised on a 1% high-cholesterol diet. Either working or sham devices were positioned at the ventral center of the neck in each rabbit. At the end of a 2-month observation period, all of the rabbits were sacrificed by perfusion fixation, the carotid arteries harvested, and the carotid atherosclerosis histology reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All of the rabbits survived to the end of the experimental period. Blood sampling revealed the presence of hypercholesterolemia in both groups, with no significant difference between them. The presence and degree of atherosclerosis did not differ significantly between the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings of this study show the feasibility of making a chronic simulated snoring rabbit model. However, the causative role of snoring in carotid atherosclerosis was not detected in this animal study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Boramae Hospital, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyunwoo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nam
authors.forename: Hee-Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Young-Ah
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hee Chan
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Kim
keywords: atherosclerosis; carotid artery; hypercholesterolemia; induced snoring; rabbit