Abstract
Summary
Middle-aged White Carneau pigeons were found to have mean systolic blood pressures of 204 ± 2.3 mm of Hg and diastolic pressures of 140 ± 1.5 mm of Hg. Serum cholesterol levels were found to be 313 ± 7.19 mg% and serum triglyceride levels were 217 ± 11.83 mg%. The aortic atherosclerosis of these birds involved 12.88 ± 0.71% of the intima of the thoracic aorta. The mean per cent of arteries with atherosclerotic lesions in 15 frozen sections of left ventricle and septum of the heart were 6.6 ± 0.85%. The levels of blood pressure among White Carneau pigeons were found to account for very little of the variability in either aortic or coronary artery atherosclerosis. No sex difference could be found in the amount of coronary or aortic atherosclerosis. Serum cholesterol levels were found to be correlated with aortic atherosclerosis among male but not female birds. Serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels were correlated with coronary artery atherosclerosis among female but not male White Carneau pigeons.
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