HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Wiggers, K. D. Articles by Getty, R. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Wiggers, K. D. Articles by Getty, R.

Atherosclerosis in Ruminants¹

Iowa State University, Ames 50010

Abstract

Atherosclerotic lesions were observed in the abdominal aortas of calves, sheep, goats, deer and caribou. Many histological similarities were seen between domestic and wild ruminants. Plaque formation, fatty streaks, lipid and calcium deposition, internal elastic membrane duplication and disruption and smooth muscle cells in the intima are quite similar to those observed in man and other animals.

Average plasma cholesterol levels for the milk-fed calves, grain-fed calves, ewes and goats, respectively, were 197, 65, 73 and 66 mg/100 milliliters. Liver cholesterol levels, on a dry matter basis, for milk-fed calves, grain-fed calves and goats, respectively, were 1.22, 0.86 and 0.87%. Our observations suggest that whole milk increases plasma cholesterol and aortic sudanophilia in the ruminant. However, it appears that development of atherosclerosis in the older ruminant can occur in the absence of a diet rich in saturated fatty acids and of a high plasma cholesterol.

¹ Journal Paper No. J-6621 of the Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station. Ames. Project No. 1671.

² Department of Animal Science.