Distribution of atherosclerotic lesions in the aorta of LDLR−/− vWf+/+ and LDLR−/−vWf−/− mice.

Eight-week-old mice were fed an atherogenic diet for 22 weeks. Aortas were collected between the subclavian and iliac branches and stained with Sudan IV. The area between and around the superior mesenteric artery and renal artery, which is highly prone to lesion formation (see “Materials and methods”) is referred to as the hot spot. The percentage of coverage for LDLR−/− vWf−/− is 16 ± 2.6 and 15.2 ± 1.9, respectively; P = .79. The percentage of the lesion in the hot spot is 48.4 ± 5.4 and 33.7 ± 3.1, respectively; P = .02. Representative specimens from both genotypes are shown, and mean values from 16 to 17 animals of each genotype are given.