OBJECTIVE: To observe whether an inexpensive dietary-induced hypercholesterolemia model in rabbits using a chow diet supplemented with egg yolks can be used to develop atherosclerotic lesions in animals. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Fourteen rabbits were divided into two groups of seven animals: control group (G1), in which the rabbits were fed standard chow diet; and experimental group (G2), in which the rabbits were fed standard chow supplemented with egg yolks. Both groups were fed for 90 days. The lipid profile of all animals was measured at 0, 30, 60 and 90 days. At the end of the experimental period, euthanasia was performed and the aorta and its direct branches were excised to perform the histopathological examination. RESULTS: There was a significant increase in plasma total cholesterol and cholesterol fractions only in group G2. The macroscopic examination showed fatty streaks in the aortic arch and abdominal aorta. Histological analyses revealed minimal lesions consisting of macrophages foam cells in the abdominal, renal, carotid and diaphragmatic aorta and femoral arteries. Therefore, the egg yolk diet developed mild atherosclerosis in rabbits and induced the same characteristics and extent of the lesions obtained by low-dosage purified cholesterol. Thus, egg yolk can be used as an inexpensive source of cholesterol in models of experimental atherosclerosis.
Atherosclerosis; cholesterol; aorta; rabbits; diet; dyslipidemias
