Asai K, Hayashi T, Kuzuya M, Funaki C, Naito M, Kuzuya F
Department of Geriatrics, Nagoya University School of Medicine, Japan.
Artery. 1990;18(1):32-46.
The role of the spleen on the metabolism of lipids in cholesterol-fed rabbits was evaluated. Rabbits were divided into two groups: splenectomized and control (sham-operated) groups. After the operation, all rabbits were fed a 1% cholesterol diet for 12 weeks and the changes in serum lipids were observed. In a separate experiment, a study of the clearance of 125I-labeled lipoproteins, including beta-migrating very-low density lipoprotein (beta-VLDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), and acetoacetylated-LDL, was carried out in both groups of rabbits. After cholesterol feeding, all rabbits showed marked hyperlipidemia; however, the splenectomized animals showed a significantly higher level of serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, and phospholipids together with a lower level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. A lipoprotein clearance study showed that beta-VLDL was cleared more slowly from the plasma of the splenectomized rabbits than of the controls fed a 1% cholesterol diet. Without cholesterol feeding, beta-VLDL was cleared more rapidly, and to a similar extent in both groups. The plasma clearance of either LDL or acetoacetylated-LDL did not differ between the two groups. These findings suggest that the spleen may play a role in catabolizing the excessive beta-VLDL in rabbits with dietary-induced hyperlipidemia.
评估了脾脏在喂食胆固醇的兔子脂质代谢中的作用。兔子被分为两组：脾切除组和对照组（假手术组）。手术后，所有兔子均喂食1%胆固醇饮食12周，并观察血清脂质的变化。在另一项实验中，对两组兔子进行了125I标记的脂蛋白清除研究，包括β迁移极低密度脂蛋白（β-VLDL）、低密度脂蛋白（LDL）和乙酰化LDL。喂食胆固醇后，所有兔子均出现明显的高脂血症；然而，脾切除的动物血清总胆固醇、甘油三酯和磷脂水平显著升高，而高密度脂蛋白胆固醇水平降低。一项脂蛋白清除研究表明，与喂食1%胆固醇饮食的对照组相比，脾切除兔子血浆中β-VLDL的清除速度更慢。不喂食胆固醇时，β-VLDL的清除速度更快，且两组清除程度相似。两组之间LDL或乙酰化LDL的血浆清除率没有差异。这些发现表明，脾脏可能在分解饮食诱导的高脂血症兔子中过量的β-VLDL中发挥作用。
