Effect of selective depletion of fibrinogen on the evolution of cholesterol-induced atherosclerosis in rabbits.

Atherosclerosis was produced by induced alimentary hyperlipaemia in four groups of rabbits. Animals of groups II and III received cholesterol feeds daily for 2 months while in groups IV and V this was followed by another 3 months of intermittent feeding. Group I comprised normal control rabbits. Selective fibrinogen depletion was produced in groups III and V with Arvin so as to maintain the plasma fibrinogen around 100 mg/dl over the last 2 months of cholesterol feeding. Serum lipids, blood coagulation and euglobulin clot lysis as well as the post mortem histopathology of aorta, heart, kidneys, liver and lungs did not reveal any significant differences between corresponding groups of hyperlipaemic animals treated with (groups III and V) or without (groups II and IV) Arvin. It appears that fibrinogen or fibrin incorporation does not play a significant role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerotic lesions induced in rabbits by cholesterol feeding.