Caracterización del pollo como biomodelo experimental en arteriosclerosis: lesiones en troncos supra-aórticos
- Sánchez Polo, María Teresa
- Castells Mora, María Teresa
- García Pérez, Bartolomé
- Adánez Martínez, María Gracia
- Martin, Antonia
- Ayala de la Peña, Ignacio
ISSN: 0213-5434, 1989-1784
Year of publication: 2011
Issue: 27
Pages: 119-128
Type: Article
More publications in: Anales de veterinaria de Murcia
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases are considered first cause of human mortality in developed countries. Animal models allow adequate research of atherosclerosis, given the similarities with the human lesions. Chickens may develop spontaneous and also induced atherosclerosis by use of a cholesterol-enriched diet. Most published findings describe aortic lesions in a variety of induction methods. Therefore, the aim of this research is to characterize the used avian model, describing supra-aortic trunk lesions in atherosclerotic chickens and to compare it with control animals. Twenty White Leghorn chickens were used (10 controls fed with a normal diet and 10 atherogenic animals fed with a hyperlipidemic diet, for 6 months). After sacrifice, lipid biochemical parameters were analysed, as well as histologic evaluation of supra-aortic vessels and quantification of lesions following the Stary classification. Statistically significant differences for each parameter were observed between the control and experimental groups. Increased intima layer width with disorganization was observed in atherogenic animals. These findings confirm the use of the chicken as an adequate experimental animal for atherosclerosis, and could be used as a reference for future interventional studies.