Effect of bacterial lipopolysaccharide on serum lipids and on the development of aortic atherosclerosis in rabbits.

The effect of repeated intravenous administration of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on serum lipids and on aortic atherosclerosis was studied in rabbits on basal diet and on hypercholesterolemic diets containing 0.15-1.0% cholesterol. LPS (10 or 100 ng/kg body weight) was administered 3 times per week for 3 or 6 weeks. No difference was observed in serum lipid levels or in aortic atherosclerosis between LPS- and saline-treated animals. These observations do not support the hypothesis that LPS has an effect on the progression of atherosclerosis.