Abstract
Summary
Studies were designed to determine the influence of season, age, sex, and atherosclerosis on blood pressure in the White Carneau (WC) pigeon, a breed that develops naturally occurring atherosclerosis. Comparisons were made with the Show Racer (SR) pigeon, a breed that is resistant to aortic atherosclerosis. In WC pigeons of 3-5 months, 1, 3, 4, 5, or 8 years of age, no influence of age or sex of the pigeon on blood pressure was measured. At no age did we see significantly higher blood pressure levels in WC compared with SR pigeons. WC pigeons, of an age prior to the development of naturally occurring atherosclerosis, were fed an atherogenic diet for 6 months. Only pigeons with extensive atherosclerosis had significantly greater systolic, diastolic, and mean blood pressures. The study provides evidence that blood pressure increases do not account for the atherosclerosis susceptibility of WC pigeons and that extensive and severe atherosclerosis result in elevated blood pressure levels in WC pigeons.
The authors gratefully acknowledge the technical assistance of Suzanne Clark, statistical analyses by Jeff Scott, and preparation of the manuscript by Lonnie Ellis. This work was supported by Grant HL-14164 from the National Institutes of Health.
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