Induction of serum lipid peroxidation in chickens

Lipid peroxidation has a known association with, but an unknown role in atherosclerosis. In order to separate the possible effects of serum lipid peroxidation from hyperlipidemia it is necessary to be able to independently manipulate these two variables. We here explore methods to raise serum peroxidation while not affecting serum lipid levels in the chickens. Pullets were injected with corn oil, injected with corn oil while feeding 1% cholesterol and injected with malondialdehyde in corn oil. Each of these treatments elevated serum peroxidation while leaving triglyceride levels unchanged. The effect of each treatment was the same and it is concluded that injection of malondialdehyde or injections of corn oil while feeding cholesterol have no advantage over injections of corn oil alone.