Abstract
Summary
Lesions have been observed in the aortas, carotid and coronary arteries in 26 of 116 rats fed a low choline diet for periods up to 216 days. None of these animals exceeded 300 days of age at the time of sacrifice. The initial lesion consists microscopically of the deposition of stainable lipid in the endothelial cells of the intima. In later stages, a proliferation of intimal cells had taken place so that small plaques resulted. In the large vessels (aortas and carotids) the subjacent media had undergone necrosis and eventual calcification. The possible relation of these lesions to atheroma in man is discussed.
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