Figure 1.

Inflammation induced in rabbits by hypercholesterolemic diet and surgeries. Rabbits were subjected to two surgeries: The mechanical removal of endothelial cells of the thoracic and abdominal aortic areas carried out by pulling back a Fogarty probe 4F along the endothelium; and, two months later, an angioplasty under radioscopic control with the aid of a balloon (20 mm long and 4.5 mm in diameter) inflated every 2 cm from the region of renal arteries to iliac bifurcation (A: balloon non inflated, A’: balloon inflated and pulled back).