TABLE 3.
Intimal area at different topographic locations determined at the age of 21 months in heterozygous LDLr -eficient rabbits fed a 0.15% cholesterol diet and in homozygous LDLr-deficient rabbits
| Ascending Thoracic Aorta | Descending Thoracic Aorta | Abdominal Aorta Kidney | Abdominal Aorta Bifurcation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Both sexes | ||||
| LDLr+/− diet (n = 29) | 9.7 ± 0.57 | 6.3 ± 0.45 | 1.2 ± 0.14 | 0.32 ± 0.055 |
| LDLr−/− (n = 19) | 14 ± 1.0** | 5.8 ± 0.49 | 1.9 ± 0.19** | 0.47 ± 0.12 |
| Male rabbits | ||||
| LDLr+/− diet (n = 12) | 11 ± 0.88 | 5.9 ± 0.60 | 1.2 ± 0.28 | 0.21 ± 0.069 |
| LDLr−/− (n = 7) | 14 ± 1.2* | 5.1 ± 0.73 | 1.3 ± 0.33 | 0.44 ± 0.098 |
| Female rabbits | ||||
| LDLr+/− diet (n = 17) | 9.0 ± 0.71 | 6.6 ± 0.65 | 1.3 ± 0.15 | 0.40 ± 0.075 |
| LDLr−/− (n = 12) | 14 ± 1.5** | 6.2 ± 0.63 | 2.2 ± 0.19a | 0.48 ± 0.18 |
Data are expressed in mm2 and represent means ± SEM. The atherogenic diet was initiated in the heterozygous rabbits at the age of 3 months. Both cholesterol-fed LDLr+/− rabbits and chow-fed LDLr−/− rabbits were euthanized for histological analysis at the age of 21 months. *: P < 0.05, **: P < 0.01, ***: P < 0.001 for comparison of LDLr+/− diet versus LDLr−/−.
a
P < 0.05 for sex difference.