Gender Gap in Aortic Cholesterol Accumulation in Cholesterol-Clamped Rabbits

Abstract

The present results suggest that female atheroprotection is independent of sex differences in plasma cholesterol but vitally dependent on the state of the arterial endothelium and involves mononuclear-endothelial cell adhesion as an early step.

The laboratory rabbit: an animal model of atherosclerosis research

“…These lesions in the rabbit aorta are more similar to human atherosclerotic lesions than those produced by feeding rabbits with a high cholesterol diet alone (Aikawa et al 1998a,b). It has been shown that, although female rabbits accumulate less cholesterol in undamaged aorta than do male rabbits, this atheroprotection does not exist in the balloon-injured aorta (Holm et al 1998).…”

“…It has been shown that the basal release of nitric oxide (NO), the endothelium derived vasodilator, is greater with endothelium intact aortic rings from female rabbits than from male rabbits and depends on the circulating oestradiol concentration (Hayashi et al 1992). Accordingly, it has been reported that female animals are less prone to diet-induced atherosclerotic lesions than male animals (Holm et al 1998). The protection of the females is explained by the presence of higher oestrogen concentrations and depends on the state of the arterial endothelium (Holm et al 1998).…”

“…Accordingly, it has been reported that female animals are less prone to diet-induced atherosclerotic lesions than male animals (Holm et al 1998). The protection of the females is explained by the presence of higher oestrogen concentrations and depends on the state of the arterial endothelium (Holm et al 1998). …”

Anatomy, Physiology, and Behavior

“…Instead, early lesions come in the form of foam cells originating from macrophages. Interestingly, female rabbits accumulate less cholesterol in the aorta than male rabbits when fed a high-cholesterol diet, but this protective effect is not present when the aorta is subject to balloon injury (Holm et al, 1998). Long-term studies of rabbits on a high-cholesterol diet are difficult since the high hepatotoxicity makes long-term survival in rabbits rare (Yanni, 2004).…”

Vascular Disease in Diabetic Women: Why Do They Miss the Female Protection?

“…Recently, the PROSPECT study has described that women have less extensive coronary artery disease, and that atherosclerotic lesions in women compared with men, have less plaque rupture and less necrotic core and calcium, despite similar plaque burden [44]. Also, in animal models for atherosclerosis, male gender contributes to the progression of lipid deposition, remodeling, and aortic lesions [45–47]. …”