LDL hypercholesterolemia is associated with accumulation of oxidized LDL, atherosclerotic plaque growth, and compensatory vessel enlargement in coronary arteries of miniature pigs

Abstract

The association between accumulation of oxidized low density lipoprotein (LDL) and (1) progression of atherosclerotic plaques and (2) compensatory enlargement was assessed in the coronary arteries of LDL-hypercholesterolemic miniature pigs. In miniature pigs fed a 4% cholesterol diet, LDL cholesterol levels increased from 27±3.5 mg/dL (mean±SEM, n=36) to 250±28 mg/dL (n=10), 260±15 mg/dL (n=6), and 260±17 mg/dL (n=10) at 6, 14, and 24 weeks, respectively. Mean intimal areas of lesions in the left anterior descending coronary artery of hypercholesterolemic pigs were 0.16±0.046 mm2 at 6 weeks (n=10) and increased 5.4-fold (n=6, P