Partial ileal bypass inhibits atherosclerosis in WHHL rabbits

The effectiveness of partial ileal bypass (PIB) as a counter-measure against atherosclerosis was evaluated in WHHL rabbits. The effects of PIB and sham operation, each performed in five animals, on serum lipids, lipoproteins and plaque formation were investigated. PIB resulted in an immediate and sustained decrease of 52% (range 29-67%) in serum cholesterol, while sham operation had no effect. The main reduction was in LDL cholesterol; VLDL-cholesterol was lowered to a lesser extent. PIB also appeared to change the electrophoretic behaviour of total serum, very low density and low density lipoproteins. Plaque formation, measured 30 weeks after operation in various aortic segments and arteries, was significantly reduced after PIB. It is concluded that an induced lowering of serum cholesterol can prevent atherosclerosis in WHHL rabbits. Also, these animals must be considered as a model for the receptor-defective cellular phenotype of homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, not for the receptor-negative type, which is the only truly genetically homozygous form.