The gerbil, hamster, and guinea pig as rodent models for hyperlipidemia

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of a hyperlipidemic diet on three different rodent models to evaluate them on how their responses simulate human serum lipid diseases. Forty hamsters, 40 gerbils, and 20 guinea pigs were given either a chow diet or a modified high-fat, high-cholesterol diet (HF/HC) for 7 days. Food was withheld from half of the animals on each diet for 12 hours prior to collecting the blood for analysis of total cholesterol and triglyceride concentration. In all species, HF/HC feeding resulted in at least a 370% increase in total cholesterol concentration. Withholding food significantly decreased total cholesterol concentration in hamsters and gerbils fed HF/HC but had no effect on animals fed chow diet. Triglyceride concentrations were increased by the HF/HC in the hamster and the gerbil. As with total cholesterol, triglyceride concentration was decreased after food was withheld in these two animal groups. We suggest that the guinea pig is the most appropriate model for studying hypercholesterolemia because of its moderate plasma cholesterol response and normal triglyceride response to a HF/HC. We also suggest that the hamster is a good model for studying hypertriglyceridemia since increased serum triglyceride concentrations can be easily maintained on a HF/HC.