New Zealand White Rabbits Fed High Cholesterol Diets Develop Morbid Systemic Diseases before Intracranial Atherosclerosis is Detected

Intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD) lacks sufficient human data; a suitable animal model is needed. Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic (WHHL) rabbits have limitations for ICAD. New Zealand white (NZW) rabbits fed high cholesterol diets and WHHL rabbits were evaluated. 14 rabbits underwent evaluation with MRI and pathology. No NZW rabbits (8 fed high cholesterol diet, 2 fed regular diets) developed ICAD. 6 (75%) high-cholesterol rabbits did not survive for the planned timeframe. All 4 WHHL rabbits developed ICAD. Methods other than induction with a high cholesterol diet should be pursued for an ICAD model.