ABSTRACT
Objective: To establish an experimental model of atherosclerosis in rats and to study the atherosclerotic lesions in the aorta,heart and liver.Methods: The rats in experimental groups were injected with a single dose of vitamin D (600 000 IU/kg) and loaded with high fat diet;control group was given saline and basic food.The pathological changes were observed in the aorta,heart and liver after 2,4,6 weeks.The scores were evaluated according to the pathological degrees.Results: No changes were observed after 2 weeks,but after 4 weeks atheroslerotic plaques were seen in the aorta and the score of the lesions were 0.50?0.39; a little lipid were found in coronary arteries;deposition of lipid was seen in the myocardium; many positive red pellets were found in the plasma of cells in the liver.After 6 weeks,more atheroslerotic plaques were observed in the aorta,and atheroslerotic plaques in coronary arteries were formed (pathological score 1.12?0.48); abundant positive red pellets were found in the plasma of the cardiac myocyte.The pathological changes occurred in rats were very similar to that of man.Conclusion: The experimental model of atherosclerosis in rat may be conveniently established by injection of vitamin D with loading of high fat diet,which can be used for the pathological and pharmacological study of atherosclerosis.
