Experimental atherosclerosis of the heart valves in rats following a long-term atherogenic regimen.

Male and female rats kept on a long-term atherogenic regimen for periods up to 15 months developed marked atherosclerotic changes of cardiac valves in 100% of cases. The degree and the topography of valvular atherosclerotic plaques corresponded widely to that seen in human atherosclerotic valvular disease. The regular topography of atherosclerotic valvular lesions was believed to be primarily due to differences in blood pressure as occurring during cardiac performance. Histologically, there was a striking contrast between the uniform composition of atheromatous plaques as found on the valves and the variability in composition of aortic atheromas.