Establishment of a rabbit carotid atherosclerosis model by injection of Helicobacter pylori / 第二军医大学学报

ABSTRACT

Objective: To establish a carotid arteriosclerosis model with New Zealand white rabbit by intravenous infusion of Helicobacter pylori (Hp), so as to lay a foundation for further investigating the relationship between Hp and carotid arteriosclerosis. Methods: Eighteen New Zealand white rabbits were fed with high fat diet for six weeks; six of them were randomly chosen and sacrificed; the other twelve were evenly randomized into control group and experimental group. Animals in the experimental group were injected with 0.5 ml Sydney Strain 1(4x108 CFU) into the ear vein once a day for three days, and animals in the control group received normal saline in the same manner. All the animals were sacrificed on the eighth week. The blood lipid, carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), and plaque formation were observed before and 6,8 weeks after the intervention. The animals were sacrificed by air embolism and the carotid specimens were collected. The morphology of the blood vessels and the presence of plaque were observed with naked eye. HE staining was used to observe the blood vessel diseases and intima thickness. Results: All the animals survived, and hyperlipidemia rabbit models were successfully established after 6-week feeding with high fat diet. The blood lipid level, carotid IMT, and blood vessel intima thickness were significantly increased in the experimental group compared with those in the control group at the eighth week(P< 0.05). More prominent atherosclerosis was noted in the experimental group compared with the control group on the eighth week. Conclusion: Carotid arteriosclerosis model can be successfully established by intravenous injection of Hp in rabbits with hyperlipidemia.