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Updated: Jun 20, 2026

The Rabbit Model of Accelerated Atherosclerosis: A Methodological Perspective of the Iliac Artery Balloon Injury

The Rabbit Model of Accelerated Atherosclerosis: A Methodological Perspective of the Iliac Artery Balloon Injury

Published on: October 3, 2017

A physiologically relevant atherogenic diet causes severe endothelial dysfunction within 4 weeks in rabbit.

Sudarshan Rai¹, David L Hare, Anthony Zulli

¹Departments of Cardiology and Medicine, University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Australia.

International Journal of Experimental Pathology

|September 18, 2009

Summary

A high-cholesterol, high-methionine diet rapidly caused severe endothelial dysfunction in rabbit aortas. This early dysfunction, linked to nitrosative stress and endoplasmic reticulum stress, precedes atherosclerosis development.

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Area of Science:

Cardiovascular Physiology
Nutritional Pathology
Molecular Biology

Background:

Atherogenic diets high in cholesterol and methionine can impact vascular health.
The early pathological effects of such diets on the aorta are not fully understood.
Investigating early endothelial dysfunction is crucial for understanding atherosclerosis onset.

Purpose of the Study:

To determine the effects of a 4-week diet (0.1% cholesterol, 1% methionine) on rabbit aortic endothelial function.
To assess changes in endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), nitrosative stress (NT), oxidative stress (HSP70), and endoplasmic reticulum stress (GRP78).
To evaluate the development of artery pathology, specifically atherosclerosis.

Main Methods:

Rabbits were fed a diet supplemented with methionine, cholesterol, and peanut oil (MC diet) for 4 weeks.
Endothelial function was assessed using organ bath techniques on the abdominal aorta.
Immunohistochemistry was used to detect eNOS, NT, GRP78, and HSP70 expression.

Main Results:

Endothelium-dependent relaxation significantly decreased by 63% in response to acetylcholine.
No atherosclerosis was observed in the aorta within the 4-week study period.
eNOS, NT, and GRP78 were present in all arteries, while HSP70 was not easily detectable.

Conclusions:

A physiological atherogenic diet rapidly induces severe endothelial dysfunction in the aorta within 4 weeks.
Nitrosative stress and endoplasmic reticulum stress likely contribute to this early endothelial dysfunction.
This rabbit model is suitable for studying endothelial dysfunction preceding atherosclerosis.