Dyslipidemia Models

The mutant models of metabolic syndrome have the advantage of high triglycerides, although it is best to cholesterol-feed them in order to make LDL cholesterol the predominant form (rats transport cholesterol primarily by HDL, unlike humans). In normal rats, placing them on a diet of 1.5% cholesterol and 0.5 % cholic acid will increase LDL cholesterol to levels seen in hypercholesterolemic humans. Hamsters transport cholesterol primarily via LDL cholesterol and are often used for this reason. Hamsters can also be cholesterol-fed in order to make them hypercholesterolemic. Primates are excellent models for cholesterol reduction studies as they metabolize cholesterol in the same manner as humans.