Quantitative study of the localization of sudanophilic coeliac lesions in the White Carneau pigeon

Abstract

Polar coordinate mapping was used to determine the rate of progression of spontaneous sudanophilic coeliac lesions on the aortic wall in White Carneau pigeons. Three age groups of 5 pigeons were studied (∼1, ∼4 and ∼6.5 years). Serum cholesterol was found to decrease with age (r = 0.69, P < 0.01). Lesion area was found to increase with both age (r = 0.86, P < 0.01) and the age-serum cholesterol product (r = 0.92, P < 0.01). Lesions developed initially in the proximal sector (270° → 90°) with two relative maxima (∼20° and ∼320°). Lesions then grow proximally and radially. The immediately proximal inflow region (340° → 360°) was spared in all 3 age groups. Little sudanophilic material was observed on the distal flow divider (90° → 270°) even in the oldest birds. The mode of spontaneous coeliac sudanophilic lesion development in the White Carneau pigeon is in sharp contrast to that observed both in spontaneous lesions in human infants and in experimental lesions in the hypercholesterolemic rabbit where lesion development is in the distal sector (90° → 270°).