A Historical Study on Atherosclerosis WHHL Rabbit with Reference to Carotid Arteries and Intracranial Arteries

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In an attempt to investigate atherosclerosis developing in WHHL rabbits, the author carried out a histological study on bilateral carotid arteries and intracranial arteries, particularly those present in the basilar area. In addition, serum level of cholesterol as well as triglyceride was measured. Thirty-seven WHHL rabbits in a range of 2-to 64-month-old were used in this experiment.Histologically, intimal thickening of carotid arteries was observed in rabbits above 2-month-old, and the incidence was 92%. In contrast, no intracranial arteries were involved with intimal thickening. Atherosclerosis of WHHL rabbits was characterized by intimal thickening which consisted mainly of foam cells and proliferation of smooth muscle cells as well as elastic fibers. However, internal elastic lamina was relatively preserved. The atherosclerosis had cholesterine crystals and calcification as additional features. A constellation of these findings was considered to be in keeping with atherosclerosis commonly seen in humans.A topographic distribution of the intimal thickening of carotid arteries seemed to have no correlation with the cholesterol level as well as the triglyceride level. Progressive thickening of the intima in bifurcations was demonstrated as the rabbits aged upto 20-month-old. In the rabbits above 20-month-old, almost all segments had intimal thickening. The lesion progressed from the bifurcations along a blood flow.In conclusion, the author considers that WHHL rabbit is a suitable animal mode l to study atherosclerosis of carotid arteries ; however, some additional factor(s), presumably such as a hypertensive state, seems to be necessary to induced the atherosclerosis in intracranial arteries.