The Porcine Species, an Useful Model in Comparative and Experimental Arteriosclerosis Research

In general the development of porcine atherosclerosis is an age-related phenomenon with a characteristic distribution pattern of lesions, the main lesions occuring in the abdominal aorta and smaller lesions within the aortic arch usually in the vicinity of the Botallian scar. In comparison with the lesions in the aorta, the lesions in coronary arteries and in their main branches occur later, around the age of two. The brain arteries do not seem to be as much involved in the minipig as in the domestic animal. The histomorphology and the known factors affecting the development of even complicated atherosclerotic lesions depend on food. In general, not only lipid or fat or cholesterol diets but also hypercaloric diets and different components added to the food have an influence on the development of atherosclerosis in swine. The natural occurrence of atherosclerosis can be accelerated by fat diets. Unsaturated fat diets result in more retardation than the use of saturated fats.