Background:

Immune eggs are laid by chickens vaccinated with a multivalent vaccine to stimulate the chickens' immune system. The effect of immune eggs and fractions from immune eggs on rabbits on an atherogenic diet was studied for 12 weeks. 

 

Study Design:

New Zealand White rabbits (NZW, conventional animal model for atherosclerosis) were fed either a normal or an atherogenic diet. Rabbits were then divided into 7 groups of animals (n=5): Group 1-normal food and water, Group 2-atherogenic food and water, Group 3-atherogenic good and control eggs at a rate of 1 egg/day, Group 4-atherogenic food and immune eggs at a rate of 1 egg/day, Group 5-atherogenic food and immune egg whites at a rate of 1 egg/day, Group 6-atherogenic food and immune egg yolks at a rate of 1 egg/day, and Group 7-atherogenic food and immune egg-yolk protein isolate. Animals remained on diet for 12 weeks. The thoracic aorta of each rabbit was removed, stained with Sudan IV (a lipid stain), cut longitudinally, pinned on a flat surface, and photographed through a stereomicroscope. The percentage of Sudan-stained intima was determined morphometrically.

 

Results:

The cardiovascular health of rabbits on diets that included immune eggs was similar to those on a low-fat diet and considerably better than either those on the atherogenic diet without any egg or with normal (control) eggs. The final total serum cholesterol in rabbits provided immune egg was considerably lower than those on the atherogenic diet with normal (control) eggs. The author also reports that regression of plaque in coronary arteries of animals were found in rabbits on "immune" egg.