Menopause, a cessation of menstrual bleeding, is directly related to serious
illness confined to cardiovascular disease (CVD) such as hypertension and stroke. The oestrogen withdrawal and consumption of high cholesterol diet has
a detrimental effect on cardiovascular function and metabolism in menopausal
women. The present study was aimed to develop the hypertensive rat model in
the ovariectomised Sprague Dawley rats fed with 2% cholesterol diet following a
short term period. Eighteen Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three
groups; Sham control (sham), ovariectomized control fed with normal diet (Ovx
+N), ovariectomized rats fed with 2% cholesterol diet (Ovx + Cho) for four weeks.
At the end of the study, the food intake and body weight were measured. The
systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressure was determined. OVX+Cho showed
significant increase in physiological changes such as body weight and food intake
compared to Ovx+N group. The significant increase in systolic, diastolic and mean
blood pressure was observed in Ovx+Cho group. Based on the above findings,
it is believed that feeding cholesterol diet for four weeks (short term) results in
significant increase in the blood pressure, food intake and body weight in the
ovariectomised rats.