A practical approach to using mice in atherosclerosis research.

This review discusses the application-side of using mice as an animal model of atherosclerosis, and is directed towards the researcher new to using mice to perform atherosclerosis studies. Although this review will comment on many of the current mouse models that are available, noting their strengths and weaknesses, the majority of this review is relevant to planning experiments involving either apolipoprotein (apo) E deficient or low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor deficient mice. Subject matter covered includes a description of the types of lesions expected to form in apoE deficient and LDL receptor deficient mice, the age of the mouse when these various types of lesion are expected to form, and finally, a description of the most popular methods used to perform both biochemical and morphometric analysis of atherosclerotic lesions.