[Experimental coronary atherosclerosis and ischemic heart disease (author's transl)].

Experimental coronary atherosclerosis was produced by application of 2 g cholesterol per day per animal to 20 rabbits for different periods (12, 16 and 20 weeks); 5 animals were used as controls. Histological sections of the basal part of the left heart ventricle were investigated morphometrically. The frequency of the atheromatosis, their distribution, and the extension of the average narrowing of the vessels were determined separately for subepicardial and intramural coronary arteries. Contrasting to the subepicardial arteries, the intramural coronary arteries showed severe lesions of the vessel wall with narrowing and obturating processes. Thereby, a time-dependent progression of the frequency and severity of atheromatosis was noted. The narrowing of the lumen as regards to the subepicardial coronary arteries did not differ significantly from controls. The intramural coronary arteries, on the other hand, showed a progressive and of the lumen at all periods of investigation significant narrowing.