Pathologic and histologic results of electrical impulses in a rabbit model of atherosclerosis: 24-hour versus 8-hour regimen

Drawing shows electrode implanted in psoas major muscle and stimulator lead placed opposite near abdominal aorta.

Histopathologic section of aorta. A, Healthy, without atherosclerosis. B, Trace of atherosclerosis. C, Level I atherosclerosis. D, Level II atherosclerosis. E, Level III atherosclerosis. F, Level IV atherosclerosis. Scale bar represents 25 mm.

Autopsy photographs of thoracic aorta after: A, 11 weeks of high cholesterol diet (HCD) only; B, 11 weeks of HCD plus 24-hour/day electrical impulses; and C, 11 weeks of HCD plus 8-hour/day electrical impulses.

Graph shows aortic thickness grade in upper thoracic aorta (UTA) , lower thoracic aorta (LTA) , upper abdominal aorta (UAA) , and lower abdominal aorta (LAA) . EI, Electrical impulses.

Graph shows percentage of involved surface area in upper thoracic aorta (UTA) , lower thoracic aorta (LTA) , upper abdominal aorta (UAA) , and lower abdominal aorta (LAA) . EI, Electrical impulses.

Histopathologic section of lower abdominal aorta. A, Level II to III atherosclerosis with high cholesterol diet (HCD) but no electrical impulses (EIs). B, Disease free with HCD plus 24-hour/day EIs. C, Level I atherosclerosis with HCD plus 8-hour/day EIs.

Autopsy photographs of abdominal aorta after (upper) 8-hour/day electrical impulses (EIs), (middle) 24-hour/day EIs, and (lower) no EIs.