Severity of atherosclerosis in rabbits in relation to serum lipids and to aorta cholesterol content.

Various workers have shown an elevation in serum lipids and lipoproteins associated with atherosclerosis in man. High cholesterol, high fatty acids, increased cholesterol/phospholipid ratio and elevation in lipoprotein fractions have all been shown to be associated with the presence of atheroma (Certler, Cam and Lerman, 1950; Cofman et al, 1950; Barr, Russ and Eder, 1951; Nikkila, 1953). At the moment considerable controversy exists as to which factor represents the best "atherogenetic index". Meng & Davis (1955) have demonstrated a correlation between the serum cholesterol in cholesterol fed rabbits and the severity of the resulting atheroma. There has been, however, relatively little attempt to correlate the other serum lipid and lipoprotein levels in cholesterol fed animals with the severity of the atheroma produced. It was thought that such data would shed some light on the relative importance of the various lipid fractions in atherogenesis.