The cockerel as an animal model for atherosclerosis research

The chicken is a good animal model for the study of atherosclerosis research because it is: 1. Omnivorous. 2. Small and suitable for prolonged laboratory investigation. 3. Able to develop spontaneous atherosclerosis. 4. Capable of producing atherosclerosis after cholesterol feeding with elevated hypercholesterolemia. A diet of 1/4% cholesterol plus 5% cottonseed oil added to starter-grower-mash resulted in aortic atherosclerosis with a slight but significant increase in plasma cholesterol. 5. Plasma levels of cholesterol and triglyceride are similar to those in humans. 6. Lipid composition of high and low density lipoproteins as well as chylomicrons resembles those of humans. 7. Has been noted that there is no essential difference between vascular lesions seen in chickens as a result of cholesterol diet and that of atherosclerosis observed in man.