Arteriosclerosis obliterans in a rabbit model.

Overview

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: The authors induced atherosclerotic occlusions in a rabbit model, using and comparing different experimental methods. METHODS: Lesions were induced in 40 femoral arteries in 20 rabbits. Four combinations of lesion induction methods were used: 1) drying of the endothelium with carbon dioxide gas; 2) gas-drying of the artery plus mechanical injury; 3) gas-drying plus induced thrombosis of the treated segment using thrombin; and 4) gas-drying, mechanical injury, and induced thrombosis. All rabbits were fed a high-fat, high-cholesterol diet for 1 to 2 months after lesion induction. RESULTS: Seventeen rabbits were available for follow-up. Sixty-eight percent (13 of 19) of femoral arteries treated with thrombin-induced thrombosis demonstrated atherosclerotic occlusions, compared with 27% of those that did not receive this treatment (4 of 15; P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: Thrombin-induced thrombotic occlusion of a segment of artery which has been de-endothelialized, followed by a high-fat, high cholesterol diet, results in a higher yield of experimental occlusive atherosclerosis in rabbits than is achievable by other methods.