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The effect of increasing levels (0–1.0%) of dietary cholesterol has been studied in the Mongolian gerbil. A consistent and proportional elevation of serum cholesterol was observed after one week of cholesterol administration. In addition, the simultaneous administration of ß-sitosterol prevented this hypercholesteremia.

Gerbils on a 1% cholesterol supplemented diet develop a peak hypercholesteremia within a week, which subsequently decreases after 30–60 days to an elevated plateau. No evidence of atheroma formation could be observed for periods up to 6 months. Maximum concentration of serum lipoproteins was found in the Sf 35–100 and 100–400 classes, with relatively low levels in the Sf 0–10, 10–20, and 20–35 classes. After 90 days, however, a reversal of the above pattern was observed.

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