Abstract
A previous communication 1 reported that the administration of choline to cholesterol-fed rabbits failed to prevent gross atherosclerosis, but did nevertheless result in a temporary delay in the appearance of aortic atheromata. The present study was designed to determine whether choline is effective in causing a reabsorption of the lesions previously produced in cholesterol-fed rabbits.
Twenty male chinchilla rabbits approximately 6 months old were used. The animals were kept indoors in individual cages. The diet consisted of oats, carrots and cabbage. One gram of cholesterol was mixed into the food of each rabbit 3 times a week for 110 days. The animals were then divided into 3 groups. Groups I-A and I-B, consisting of 5 animals each, were designated as controls. Group II contained 10 animals. Group I-A animals were sacrificed immediately after the 110-day cholesterol feeding period was completed. Group I-B animals were placed on the regular diet for 60 days after the cholesterol feeding period was discontinued. Group II animals were fed 0.5 g of choline daily for 60 days in addition to the regular diet after the 110 days of cholesterol feeding was completed. Groups I-B and II with one exception, were sacrificed on the 170th day of the experiment. One animal in Group II was sacrificed after 30 days of choline feeding on the 140th day of the experiment. The choline was administered by dissolving choline hydrochloride (Merck) in 5 cc of water and mixing with ground carrots. Food was withheld from the animals for 5 hours before the feeding of either cholesterol or choline to insure ingestion.
Blood was obtained from the ear vein at monthly intervals. Cholesterol determinations were made on the whole blood by the method of Bloor, Pelkan and Allen.
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