PMC

A) Expression and localization of VCAM-1 in renal sections of each group. Insert shows a 200× magnification of a representative glomerulus which indicated by arrow. Control mice fed a cholesterol-free Western type diet (CON); high dose (1% w/w) cholesterol diet (HC); alternate CON (4 days) and HC (3 days) diet regimen (ALT); medium dose (0.43% w/w) cholesterol diet (MC).

A) Active p65-NFκB expression in liver homogenates relative to CON, B) Intrahepatic free cholesterol concentrations. Control mice fed a cholesterol-free Western type diet (CON, n = 15); high dose (1% w/w) cholesterol diet (HC, n = 13); alternate CON (4 days) and HC (3 days) diet regimen (ALT, n = 13); medium dose (0.43% w/w) cholesterol diet (MC, n = 14). Values are presented as means ± SEM. * P<0.05, ** P<0.01, *** P<0.001.

A) Total atherosclerotic lesion area per cross-section, B) Lesion-free aortic segments per cross section, C) Macrophage immunostaining (MAC-3 immunoreactivity). Control mice fed a cholesterol-free Western type diet (CON, n = 14); high dose (1% w/w) cholesterol diet (HC, n = 12); alternate CON (4 days) and HC (3 days) diet regimen (ALT, n = 12); medium dose (0.43% w/w) cholesterol diet (MC, n = 12). Values are presented as means ± SEM.* P<0.05, ** P<0.01, *** P<0.001.

A) Expression and localization of macrophages in renal sections. Inset shows a 200× magnification of a representative glomerulus which indicated by arrow. B) Renal accumulation of macrophages was quantified by morphometry. Data are expressed as a percentage of positive area occupied by FA-11 stained macrophages. Control mice fed a cholesterol-free Western type diet (CON, n = 15); high dose (1% w/w) cholesterol diet (HC, n = 13); alternate CON (4 days) and HC (3 days) diet regimen (ALT, n = 13); medium dose (0.43% w/w) cholesterol diet (MC, n = 14). Values are presented as means ± SEM. ** P<0.01, *** P<0.001.

Plasma parameters over time for each treatment group. A) Plasma cholesterol over time, B) plasma E-selectin, C) plasma VCAM-1, D) plasma serum amyloid A (SAA). Groups are abbreviated as: control mice fed a cholesterol-free Western type diet (CON, n = 15); mice fed the same Western type diet but supplemented with high dose (1% w/w) cholesterol (HC, n = 13); mice with alternate CON (4 days) and HC (3 days) diet regimen (ALT, n = 13); mice fed Western type diet supplemented with a medium dose (0.43% w/w) cholesterol (MC, n = 14). * P<0.05 compared to CON, # P<0.05 compared to ALT, and P<0.05 compared to MC. Values are presented as means ± SEM.