EFFECTS OF DIETARY FATS FROM ANIMAL AND PLANT SOURCES ON DIET-INDUCEDFATTY STREAK LESIONS IN C57BL 6J MICE/

This study was designed to determine the effects of a variety of natur ally Occurring saturated fats on aortic lesion formation in C57BL/6J m ice that are susceptible to diet-induced fatty streak lesions. Groups of female mice were randomly assigned to one of seven treatment groups and were fed diets containing 15% (w/w) hydrogenated coconut oil, hyd rogenated soy oil, hydrogenated palm oil, cocoa butter, lard, tallow, or dairy butter, 1% cholesterol, and 0.5% cholic acid. Plasma lipid le vels were measured to determine whether lesion formation was related t o specific changes in these parameters. Lesions, which were observed i n all groups of mice, ranged from 420 to 3220 mum2/aortic cross sectio n. Lesion area was positively correlated to the percentage of saturate d fatty acids contained in the fat sources and the ratio of combined V LDL plus LDL-cholesterol to HDL-cholesterol and inversely correlated t o monounsaturated fatty acids content and to HDL-cholesterol levels. R esults from this study demonstrate that inbred mice may provide a good model for dissecting the genetic basis for the differential atherogen ic responses to diet-induction and for studying the effects of dietary factors on aortic lesion development.