ROLE OF THE SPLEEN IN LIPID-METABOLISM

The frequency of ischaemic heart disease observed after splenectomy fo r trauma and the low cholesterol levels found in patients with hypersp lenism are observations that suggest a possible role for the spleen in lipid metabolism and in the aetiology of atherosclerosis, The present study was designed to examine this role in experimental animals. Seru m levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride and high-density lipoprote in (HDL) cholesterol were determined in 32 rats. The spleen was remove d in 16 rats and the remaining 16 were sham operated. Half of the sple nectomized and half of the remaining rats were fed on a diet rich in f at and the two other subgroups were fed normal chow. Blood tests were performed before, and 3 and 6 months after operation. A significant in crease in serum triglyceride and decrease in serum HDL cholesterol lev els was observed after splenectomy in rats fed normal chow compared wi th sham-operated rats. An increase in serum triglyceride and a decreas e in serum HDL cholesterol levels was observed in both groups of rats fed normal chow plus high-fat cheese. However, these changes were more pronounced in splenectomized rats. These findings suggest that the sp leen has a role in lipid metabolism in rats and may therefore influenc e atherosclerosis.