Evidence of extensive atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction in the ApoE −/−:Ins2 +/Akita mouse fed a western diet

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Diabetic patients with no history of cardiac infarction have a prevalence of coronary atherosclerosis and a risk of heart attack equivalent to euglycemic patients who have coronary atherosclerosis and have suffered a prior myocardial infarction. Although several murine models of diabetes have been established, none of these show indications of cardiac events. In an attempt to establish a diabetic mouse model with coronary …