[One century of the cholesterol model of atherosclerosis]

2012 sees the centennial of the development of the cholesterol model of atherosclerosis by N.N. Anitchkov and S.S. Khalatov. Its appearance became an important stage in the development of atherosclerosis pathogenesis and determined the further directions by Anitchkov's investigations direction as well as others Russian and world researchers. The Anitchkov biography and the history of experimental cholesterol atherosclerosis model creation described in details. This article considers the history of the development of the cholesterol model, some modern concepts on the nature of hypercholesterolemia (Watanabe's genetic model), demonstrating importance of the cell receptors in the homeostasis maintenance.