PACKED CELL-VOLUME AND SERUM-CHOLESTEROL CONCENTRATION IN RABBITS WITH DIFFERENTIAL CHOLESTEROLEMIC RESPONSE TO DIETARY-CHOLESTEROL

The question addressed is whether in rabbits there is a relationship b etween serum cholesterol response to dietary cholesterol and packed ce ll volume. For this purpose we have analysed data from backcross proge ny of a cross between IIIVO/JU (dietary cholesterol resistant) and AX/ JU (dietary cholesterol susceptible) rabbits which were fed a commerci al, pelleted diet fortified with 0.3% (w/w) cholesterol during a test period which lasted 4 or 5 weeks. After the test period, hyperresponde rs with high serum cholesterol levels and hyporesponders with low seru m cholesterol levels could be distinguished from normoresponders. Male rabbits, when compared with female rabbits, had lower serum cholester ol levels. Packed cell volume appeared not to be effected by gender. F or male rabbits there was no clear relationship between serum choleste rol response and packed cell volume. In females after a 4 week test pe riod, there tended to be a positive relationship between packed cell v olume and serum cholesterol. In contrast, there was a negative relatio nship between serum cholesterol concentration and packed cell volume f or female rabbits after 5 weeks of feeding the cholesterol-rich diet. Thus it is concluded that previous epidemiological findings of a posit ive association between packed cell volume and serum cholesterol in hu man beings cannot be substantiated by the experimental approach in rab bits.