Microminipig,a non-rodent experimental animal optimized for life science research: Novel atherosclerosis model induced by high fat and cholesterol diet

Atherosclerotic lesions were observed in male and ovariectomized female microminipig (mmp) fed a high fat and cholesterol diet with sodium cholate (hfcd/sc) for 3 months. hfcd/sc induced hypercholesterolemia accompanied by an increase in serum total cholesterol (t-cho),low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (ldl-c),high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (hdlc),and cholesterol ester (ce). unlike the mouse or rabbit,a dominant ldl-c fraction in the intact mmp,similar to that in humans,was observed by serum lipoprotein analysis. hfcd/sc increased body weight gain. at the end of the experiment,computed tomography scans of conscious animals showed that hfcd/sc had decreased liver attenuation values (hounsfield unit) and increased subcutaneous and abdominal fat,suggesting the induction of fatty liver and obesity. hfcd/sc induced atherosclerotic lesions in systemic arteries,including the external and internal iliac arteries,abdominal aorta,coronary artery,and cerebral arterial circle. atherosclerosis and pathological findings induced by hfcd/sc in mmp were similar to those in humans. the mmp is a potentially suitable tool for investigating human atherosclerosis. © the japanese pharmacological society.