Figure 3.

Severe xanthomatosis in ACAT1^–/–LDLR^–/– mice fed an atherogenic diet for 2 months. (a) Appearance of ACAT1^–/–LDLR^–/– mouse compared with a ACAT1^+/+LDLR^–/– littermate control. The marked skin thickening gives the ACAT1^–/–LDLR^–/– mouse an obese appearance. (b–d) In H&E-stained skin sections, no abnormalities were detected in ACAT1^+/+LDLR^–/– controls (b, ×40); thickened skin and inflammation were present in ACAT1^–/–LDLR^–/– mice (c, ×40; d, ×100). The marked skin thickening in ACAT1^–/–LDLR^–/– mice (c and d) was associated with dermal edema and a pleomorphic inflammatory infiltrate with cholesterol clefts (d, thin arrows) and multinucleated giant cells (d, open arrows). (e and f) H&E-stained sections of brain of ACAT1^–/–LDLR^–/– mice demonstrating free cholesterol crystal deposits in the cerebellum (e, ×10) and near the choroid plexus (f, ×40).