Hypercholesteremia and Atherosclerosis Induced in Rabbits by Purified High Fat Rations Devoid of Cholesterol.

Abstract

Rabbits fed cholesterol-supplemented purified diets containing 20% of hydrogenated shortening or safflower oil showed lower plasma cholesterol levels on safflower oil diets, but only negligible differences between oils with respect to aortic atheroma production. Similar studies with cholesterol-free diets showed that rabbits on hydrogenated coconut oil are much more prone to hypercholesteremia than rabbits on safflower oil diets. In these latter studies aortic atheromatous lesions developed in all rabbits in 16 weeks on 20% of the saturated fat as contrasted to little or no lesion production on 20% safflower oil. Jaundice occurred in many of the rabbits with hypercholesteremia.