Handling and diet-induced atherosclerosis in rabbits

Atherosclerosis was induced in rabbits by feeding them a 2% cholesterol diet (CHOL) during a 5-week period. Twelve rabbits were fed with increasing amounts of CHOL food until the ad libitum level was reached, whereas in 24 other rabbits the food was limited to the amount eaten by the lowest consumer of the group to reduce individual variability in total amount of food consumed. Twice a day, half of the rabbits were handled carefully, the other half had normal laboratory practice contact with their caretaker. Feed intake and amount of atherosclerosis were determined for all experimental animals, while for the handled animals behavioural parameters and changes were recorded daily and per animal. On average the handled and non-handled rabbits took the same amount of food per week, although there were large individual differences. The handled animals showed some behavioural adaptation to being handled. Handling had no influence on atherosclerosis size; this latter measure was only roughly determined by the amount of CHOL food eaten.