Modelo experimental de indução e manutenção de hipercolesterolemia, com formação de placas ateroscleróticas em aorta de coelhos.

Abstract

Introduction: The hypercholesterolemia and its relation to atherosclerosis, especially the coronary disease, are an important subject for the scientific community. Objective: to present a satisfactory experimental model to induce hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis in rabbits. Methods: ten New Zealand rabbits were submitted to supplemented diet (cholesterol 0,5 %) for three months to induction and for other three months (cholesterol 0,1 %) to maintain the hypercholesterolemia. The lipid profile was dosed in three stages of the experiment, adopting basal levels as negative control. After euthanasia, the aortic tissue was obtained for analysis of sudanofilic areas and submitted to morfohistometry at three different aortic areas. Results: it was observed elevation of total cholesterol, reaching 1203,7 ± 76,9 and 206,7 ± 69,7, later; LDL – c with average 458 ± 277,7 and 62,4 ± 26,2 at the end; and triglycerides elevated to 372 ± 417,3 and returned to values closed to basal levels. The HDL – c remained in values closed to basal levels: 34,7 ± 10,1 and 27,2 ± 8,0. The macroscopic analysis showed extensive sudanofilic areas, corresponding to atherosclerotic plaques (average: 68 ± 27,9 mm2 ). The morfohistometry revealed values of intima-media thickness relation: 1,35 ± 0,54 in transverse arch, 1,54 ± 0,55 in thoracic segment and 0,93 ± 1,01 in abdominal segment. Conclusion: the experimental model presented alterations in the lipid profile compatible to atherosclerosis, areas related to atherosclerotic plaques and intimal thickness observed in the intima-media thickness relation of aortic tissue.