THE ROLE OF THYMOSIN F5 ON ANEMIA IN HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIC RABBITS

New Zealand White rabbits were made hypercholesterolemic by feeding a high cholesterol diet (20 g/kg diet) for 3 months. Plasma cholesterol concentrations were monitored as a function of time. At the end of 3 m onths, the plasma lipid levels, the whole blood, erythrocyte and haemo globin-bound 2,3-DPG levels and leucocyte counts increased, whereas er ythrocyte counts, hematocrit and haemoglobin levels decreased signific antly in hypercholesterolemic rabbits. At the end of 3 months, the rab bits in the experimental group were divided into two groups. The first group was fed a standard diet for 21 days. The second group received 0.5 mg/kg thymosin F5 injection i.p. every other day for 21 days, Afte r this period, the plasma lipid levels, the whole blood, erythrocyte a nd haemoglobin-bound 2,3-DPG levels, erythrocyte and leucocyte counts, hematocrit and haemoglobin levels were measured, Rabbits fed diets su pplemented with thymosin F5 had markedly lower plasma lipid levels, er ythrocyte counts, hematocrit and haemoglobin levels and enhanced leuco cyte counts, but did not have significantly less whole blood, erythroc yte and haemoglobin-bound 2,3-DPG levels, We conclude tht thymosin F5 has lipid-lowering effects in hypercholesterolemic rabbits, The data f urther suggest that effects of thymosin F5 on haematological parameter s are due to the cholesterol decrease and not to the direct regulatory mechanism.