IRCCS San Raffaele Pisana 1 article published in JoVE Medicine Induction of Atherosclerotic Plaques Through Activation of Mineralocorticoid Receptors in Apolipoprotein E-deficient Mice Vincenzo Marzolla1, Andrea Armani1, Caterina Mammi1, Alessandra Feraco1, Massimiliano Caprio1,2 1Laboratory of Cardiovascular Endocrinology, IRCCS San Raffaele Pisana, Rome, Italy, 2Department of Human Sciences and Promotion of the Quality of Life, San Raffaele Roma Open University, Rome, Italy We describe a protocol to induce atherosclerosis in the aortic root of ApoE-/- mice fed with an atherogenic diet, through a continuous release of aldosterone. Methods to characterize plaque composition are also described.