- Academic Editor
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Background: Various methods were used to induce atherosclerosis in
rabbits. One of the most common methods used is high-cholesterol diet (HCD)
feeding. However, the exact amount and duration of HCD feeding to induce early
and established atherosclerosis in New Zealand white rabbits (NZWR) continue to
be debated among researchers. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the
effectiveness of 1% HCD feeding in inducing early and established
atherosclerosis lesions in NZWR. Methods: A total of 50 g/kg/day of 1%
HCD was fed to three to four months old male rabbits weighing 1.8 to 2.0 kg for
four and eight weeks to induce early and established atherosclerosis
respectively. The body weight and lipid profile were measured at baseline and
post-HCD intervention. Following euthanasia, the aorta was excised and prepared
for histology and immunohistochemical analysis to confirm the stages of
atherosclerosis. Results: The mean body weight of the rabbits in early
and established atherosclerosis groups increased significantly up to 17.5%
(p = 0.026) and 19.75% (p = 0.019) respectively compared to
baseline. The total cholesterol level dramatically elevated up to 13-fold
(p = 0.005) and 38-fold (p = 0.013) compared to baseline, after
four and eight weeks of 1% HCD feeding respectively. The low-density lipoprotein
level significantly increased up to 42-fold (p = 0.006) and 128-fold
(p = 0.011) compared to baseline, after four and eight weeks of 1% HCD
feeding respectively. Rabbits fed with four and eight weeks 1% HCD significantly
developed 5.79% (p = 0.008) and 21.52% (p = 0.008) aortic
lesion areas compared to the control group. Histological evaluation in the aorta
showed accumulation of foam cells in early atherosclerosis group and formation of
fibrous plaque and lipid core in the established atherosclerosis group. Rabbits
fed with eight weeks HCD showed higher tissue expressions of ICAM-1, VCAM-1,
e-selectin, IL-6, IL-8, NF-