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Table 3 Animal studies evaluating the effect of air pollution on atherosclerosis

From: Particulate matter and atherosclerosis: role of particle size, composition and oxidative stress

Study

PM fraction (mode of administration)

Animal model

Diet

Assessment of Atherosclerosis (Method)

Effect on atherosclerosis

Reference

Suwa et al

2002

PM10 (I.T.)

Watanabe rabbits

Chow

% lesional volume in coronary arteries and aorta (histology)

Increase

[38]

Chen & Nadziejko

2005

PM2.5

(Inhaled CAPs)

apoE-/-, LDL-/- mice

apoE-/- mice

Chow

Chow

% lesional area in whole aorta (histology)

No change

Increase

[41]

Sun et al 2005

PM2.5

(Inhaled CAPs)

apoE-/- mice

Chow

HFD

% lesional area in cross-sections of aorta (histology)

N.S. increase

Increase

[42]

Sun et al

2008

PM2.5

(Inhaled CAPs)

apoE-/- mice

Chow

HFD

% lesional area in aorta (ultrasound)

N.S. increase

Increase

[43]

Araujo et al

2008

PM2.5 & UFP (Inhaled CAPs)

apoE-/-mice

Chow

Chow

Mean lesional area in aortic root (histology)

N.S. increase

Increase

[44]

  1. I.T. = Intratraqueal, CAPs = Concentrated ambient particles, HFD = High fat diet, N.S. = Not significant