Induction Of Atheroma In Renal Arteries Of Rabbits

Ozoa, A.; Glagov, S.

The main renal artery in man is comparatively free of atherosclerosis; renal arteries of hypercholesterolemic rabbits with extensive aortic atheromatosis are normally free of plaques. Lipid plaque deposition was induced in the renal arteries of hypercholesterolemic rabbits by producing atrophy of the associated kidney. Total ligation of 1 renal vein in 1 or 2 stages resulted in various degrees of renal atrophy; subtotal ligation resulted in little or no atrophy because of the development of abundant collateral venous drainage. None of the animals became hypertensive. Rabbits with atrophic kidneys and marked aortic atheromatosis developed intimal plaques in the renal arteries on the ligated side; animals with marked aortic lesions but without renal atrophy had no renal artery plaques. The arteries supplying the hyperplastic contralateral kidneys had no plaques. These observations suggest that hemodynamic changes accompanying unilateral kidney atrophy were responsible for the selective deposition of plaques in the associated renal artery.