Biochemical Changes and Aortic Atherosclerosis in a Colony of Apolipoprotein-E Deficient Mice: A Possible Model?

Aim. To evaluate the sequence of biochemical and pathological changes in liver and abdominal aorta in apolipoprotein-E deficient mice (8 weeks old, standard diet) in relation with age. Materials and methods: euthanasia (pentobarbital sodium and phenytoin) was practiced at 16, 20 and 30 weeks of age. Glycemia and the level of total cholesterol and its fractions were biochemically routinely determined. Sections of the liver and the ascending aorta were dissected and conventionally processed for morphology and morphometry. Results: hyperglycemia was observed at 20 weeks (39%, p<0.02). Hypertriglyceridemia (x2.8, p<0.01), an increase in non-HDL cholesterol (71%, p<0.05) and a decrease in HDL cholesterol (-26%, p<0.05) were found at 30 weeks. Liver inflammation and portal inflammation increased (4-fold, p<0.01 and 2-fold, p<0.03 respectively) between weeks 20-30. At week 30: aortic plaque area and the percentage of stenosis increased (respectively 5-fold, p<0.0001 and 2.4-fold, p<0.01) and the intima-media ratio increased (3-fold, p<0.05) with media thinning (-69 %, p