Gender is a strong predictor of
coronary heart disease (CHD) susceptibility and reports indicate that males are more likely to develop CHD compared to age-matched premenopausal females. To test whether similar gender differences exist in hamsters, 16 male and 16 female F1B Golden Syrian hamsters, aged 10 weeks, were fed a hypercholesterolemic nonpurified diet (HCD) containing 10%
coconut oil and 0.05%
cholesterol for 12 weeks. Plasma
lipid and
lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations,
LDL oxidative susceptibility,
LDL tocopherol concentrations,
LDL fatty acid composition,
LDL particle size, plasma
estradiol and
testosterone concentrations, and early aortic
atherosclerosis were analyzed. Female hamsters had significantly lower plasma total
cholesterol and nonhigh-density
lipoprotein cholesterol (nonHDL-C) and greater
high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) concentrations compared to male hamsters (-15, -33, and 33%; respectively). Female hamsters had significantly greater
LDL particle size (4%),
LDL 22:6 (21%)
fatty acid, and rate of
LDL oxidation (34%) compared to male hamsters. Female hamsters had a significantly higher concentration of plasma
estradiol (49%) compared to male hamsters. Female hamsters also had significantly less early aortic
atherosclerosis compared to male hamsters (-77%). In female hamsters, aortic fatty streak formation was significantly associated with plasma nonHDL-C (r = 0.76, P<0.0007),
LDL particle size (r = -0.66, P<0.005), plasma TC (r = 0.68. P<0.004), and lag phase of
LDL oxidation (r = 0.84. P<0.02). In male hamsters, aortic fatty streak formation was significantly associated with plasma nonHDL-C (r = 0.52, P<0.04), plasma TC (r = 0.55, P<0.03), plasma TG (r = 0.79, P<0.0003), and
LDL 22:6 (r = -0.78, P<0.03) with no association with any measures of
LDL oxidation susceptibility. This study demonstrates that female hamsters have an improved plasma
lipoprotein cholesterol profile, larger
LDL particle size, and less early aortic
atherosclerosis compared to male hamsters fed the same HCD.