CONICET | Buscador de Institutos y Recursos Humanos

Aims: The investigation of the effects of a high cholesterol diet for a short-time period on hematological parameters and the potential role of oxidative stress and inflammation markers. Main methods: Rabbits were fed either a control diet or a diet containing 1% cholesterol (HD) for 5-6 weeks. The plasma lipid levels (total cholesterol, LDL-c, HDL-c and triglycerides), C reactive protein (CRP), total red blood cells (RBC), total white blood cells (WBC), platelets count, hemoglobin concentration (Hb), erythrocyte indices, packed cell volume (PCV) and leukocyte formula were determined. Oxidative stress was evaluated by the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), total glutathione and GSH serum level measurements. The osmotic fragility and the membrane fluidity of erythrocytes were determined. The levels of total cholesterol and TBARS were also measured in the erythrocyte membrane suspension. Key findings: decrease in the RBC and PCV was observed in rabbits fed on HD. The membrane rigidity and osmotic fragility was increased, and the morphological changes caused by the high cholesterol and TBARS levels in the erythrocyte membrane may account for this phenomenon. The inflammatory markers as the CRP levels, the platelets count, the WBC and the neutrophils were increased. The TBARS and GSH levels in the serum were increased and decreased, respectively. Significance: This study shows that feeding rabbits an HD for a short time induces hematological alterations, disturbances in the oxidant-antioxidant balance and an increase of inflammatory markers. All these processes occur early. These findings support the importance of the early correction or prevention of high cholesterol levels to disrupt the pathophysiological process leading to the development of cardiovascular diseases.