Atheromata in an inbred strain of mice

Male C57BL/6J inbred mice started on a high-fat, high-cholesterol diet at age 5–6 weeks survived well (100 % alive after 25 weeks) on the diet provided they were introduced to it gradually. All animals on the diet at least 5 weeks showed marked incorporation of fat into the subendothelial cells and in 7/8 the cells were swollen enough to be designated as foam cells. After 10 weeks on the diet all animals showed foam cells and as the diet continued for 15, 20 and 25 weeks the lesions, in general, increased in extent, in depth (the media was frequently involved) and in numbers. All lesions reported were in the region of the aortic valves.