The development of pigeon strains with selected atherosclerosis characteristics

Abstract

Parental pairs of White Carneau, Show Racer, and F 2 (progeny of F 1 crosses between White Carneau and Show Racer) pigeons were identified according to specific features of the atherosclerosis of their offspring. Progeny were evaluated for atherosclerotic variables after being fed a diet containing 0.5% cholesterol for 6 mo. No significant differences were seen in the degree of hypercholesterolemia between breeds; however, within breeds all males had significantly higher serum cholesterol concentrations than females. Aortic atherosclerosis was more severe in White Carneau than in Show Racer or F 2 with F 2 pigeons being intermediate in the response. All autopsied progeny dying during the experiment showed more aortic and coronary atherosclerosis than their surviving sibs. Likewise, there was more coronary and aortic atherosclerosis in pigeons with myocardial infarcts found when they were killed at the end of the experiment. Aortic root and coronary artery atherosclerosis were assessed as important causative factors in myocardial infarction. Based on the atherosclerotic characteristics of progeny, the following strains have been selected. 1. 1. A strain of White Carneau with severe aortic atherosclerosis having mean aortic cholesterol concentrations of 60.42 mg/g aorta. 2. 2. A strain of Show Racer with very little aortic atherosclerosis having a mean aortic cholesterol concentration of 2.40 mg/g aorta. 3. 3. A strain of F 2 with concomitant severe coronary artery atherosclerosis (mean coronary artery index of 38) and very little aortic atherosclerosis (mean aortic cholesterol concentration of 6.13 mg/g aorta). 4. 4. A Show Racer and an F 2 strain with a frequency of myocardial infarction of 43 and 60%, respectively.