Intraluminal Endothelium-Covered Bridges in Chronic Fat-Fed Balloon-Injured Yucatan Miniswine

The Yucatan miniswine has been recommended as an animal model of advanced atherosclerosis. Atherosclerotic plaques developed in this model demonstrate foam cells, widespread fibrosis, and calcification, features suggestive of human atherosclerosis, We have observed the occurrence of intraluminal projections that appear peculiar to this animal model. Forty-three miniswine, weighing between 20 and 30 kg, were rendered atherosclerotic with a combination of balloon endothelial injury of the aortoiliac segments and dietary supplementation with 2% cholesterol and 15% lard. Endothelial injury was created by retrograde balloon catheter injury of the aorta and both external iliac arteries via cutdowns on the femoral arteries. Serum cholesterol prior to starting the diet and at I, 2, and 6 weeks following initiation of the diet was 2.0 ± 0.4, 11.6 ± 4.0, 15.9 ± 5.0, and 16.4 ± 4.2 mM, respectively (p