HCD-induced hypercholesterolemia and vascular lipid accumulation in adult zebrafish.

<p>Five-week-old zebrafish were fed a 4% cholesterol-enriched (HCD) or a normal diet (control) diet for 8, 10, and 19 weeks. A. Male fish (confirmed by dissection) fed a HCD or a control diet. The ratio of body weight to length (body mass index) (n = 6–8 in each group, males; no statistically significant differences). B. Total plasma cholesterol levels of zebrafish fed a HCD or a control diet after feeding 19 weeks (n = 10 in each group, both males and females). C and D. Dorsal aortas of HCD-fed zebrafish or control diet. HCD-fed zebrafish for 8 to 10 weeks; (C) H & E staining. (D) Fatty streak lesion formed in the doral aorta of 19 week HCD-fed zebrafish. Arrows show the lipid accumulation by Oil-Red O staining.