The Relationship of Serum Lipoproteins to Atherosclerosis in the Cholesterol-Fed Alloxanized Rabbit

The alloxanized rabbit fed cholesterol develops extreme hyperlipemia and hypercholesteremia and yet develops a lesser degree of atherosclerosis than does the normal animal fed cholesterol. The concentrations of the Sf 12-30 and Sf 20-30 classes of lipoproteins correlate well with atherosclerosis as finally observed in the alloxanized rabbit, whereas both free and total serum cholesterol correlate negatively with atherosclerosis. In the alloxan-diabetic rabbit, the serum cholesterol is principally carried in the Sf 80-100 and greater classes of lipoproteins, and a metabolic block in the conversion of these lipoproteins to those of Sf 40 and less can be demonstrated.