In a strain of genetically hypercholesterolemic rats (RICO), developed from an albino mutant of Rattus norvegicus (Sprague-Dawley, Tif: RAIf, SPF) by selective breeding, the intimal plasminogen activator activity (PAA) at the nonbranching regions of the aorta was markedly lower than at the nonbranching regions of the aorta in the control strain (Sprague-Dawley). At the branching regions of the aorta the intimal PAA showed no difference between the two strains of rats. In another strain of rats (HBC; hyper-beta-cholesterolemic) with a slightly elevated level of total cholesterol in the blood, a high concentration of LDL-cholesterol and a low concentration of triglycerides, the intimal PAA showed no difference from that in the control strain (Sprague-Dawley) at the branching and nonbranching regions of the aorta. 6 weeks after a single injection of streptozotocin at a diabetogenic dose (45 mg/kg) into RICO rats and the control strain, the intimal PAA was found to be increased by 280% in RICO rats, but only by 140% in controls, compared to that in the corresponding nontreated rats.