β-VLDL hypercholesterolemia relative to LDL hypercholesterolemia is associated with higher levels of oxidized lipoproteins and a more rapid progression of coronary atherosclerosis in rabbits

Abstract

The accumulation of the oxidized apolipoprotein, apoB-100, containing lipoproteins in the arterial wall and the progression of coronary atherosclerotic lesions in rabbits with β-VLDL and LDL hypercholesterolemia was compared. In New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits on a 0.125% cholesterol diet, LDL cholesterol levels increased from 14±1 mg/dL (mean±SEM; n=9) to 170±34 mg/dL (n=10, P=.0002). On 0.5% cholesterol, LDL cholesterol levels were similar, but β-VLDL cholesterol levels increased from 60±4 mg/dL (n=10) to 550±75 mg/dL (n=8; P