Atherosclerosis and acute arterial thrombosis in rabbits: a model using balloon desendothelization without dietary intervention

P.D. Picon, S.C. Gonçalves, M.V. Wainstein, A.F. Costa, C.V. Mengarda, R.P. Machado, G.L. Berlim, M. Edelweiss, M.I. Edelweiss, J.P. Ribeiro
1997 Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research  
Acute thrombosis can be induced in rabbits by a triggering protocol using Russell's viper venom and histamine given after 8 months of a 1% cholesterol diet and balloon desendothelization. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that aortic desendothelization performed 4 months before the triggering protocol without a high cholesterol diet is a highly effective and less expensive way of producing arterial atherosclerosis and thrombosis. Nineteen male New Zealand white rabbits on a normal
more » ... iet were studied. The control group (N = 9) received no intervention during the 4-month observation period, while the other group (N = 10) was submitted to aortic balloon desendothelization using a 4F Fogarty catheter. At the end of this period, all animals were killed 48 h after receiving the first dose of the triggering treatment. Eight of 10 rabbits (80%) in the balloon-trauma group presented platelet-rich arterial thrombosis while none of the animals in the control group had thrombus formation (P<0.01). Thus, this model, using balloon desendothelization without dietary manipulation, induces arterial atherosclerosis and thrombosis and may provide possibilities to test new therapeutic approaches. Correspondence
doi:10.1590/s0100-879x1997000300017 pmid:9246241 fatcat:t6h42xvfp5h5jpqwwfz5khvk5u