BACKGROUND: To verify the effect on plasmatic lipid level of rats feed with control diet and diet added with 2.5% pure cholesterol after total splenectomy, ligature of the splenic vessels and partial splenectomy with preservation of the inferior pole. METHODS: One hundred and eleven male Wistar rats weighting between 273 and 427g aged 12 weeks, were randomly divided into 5 groups. Group 1 (N = 20) control group was not submitted to surgery; Group 2 (N = 20) submitted to manipulation of the spleen; Group 3 (N = 31) total splenectomy; Group 4 (N = 20) simultaneous ligature of the splenic artery and vein; Group 5 (N = 20) partial splenectomy with preservation of the inferior pole. Plasmatic lipids levels were measured and the animals divided in two subgroups according to the type of diet: subgroup A control diet, subgroup B had a 2.5% pure cholesterol added to the control diet. All animals were killed ninety days after the beginning of the experiment, following a new dosage of plasmatic lipids. RESULTS: Animals submitted to total splenectomy, independently of any diet, showed significant increase (p < 0.05) in total cholesterol, LDL, VLDL and triglycerides. The increase of HDL was significant in the rats fed with control diet (p < 0.05) and non significant in the rats submitted to the diet with pure cholesterol (p = 0.29). The animals submitted to simultaneous ligature of vein and artery and to control diet did not show significant alteration of the plasmatic lipids. In the group submitted to diet added with pure cholesterol, we observed a significant increase (p < 0.05) in total cholesterol, VLDL and triglycerides, although the levels of HDL were the same. Animals submitted to partial splenectomy with preservation of the inferior pole and to control diet, did not show significant alterations (p < 0.05) in total cholesterol, LDL, VLDL and triglycerides, but did in HDL (p < 0.05). In those with diet with cholesterol we observed an increase in total cholesterol, LDL, VLDL and triglycerides but not in HDL. CONCLUSIONS: Total splenectomy leads to a significant increase of total cholesterol, LDL, VLDL and triglycerides, independently of the type of diet. The increase is more significant in the animals that received their diet with a 2.5% pure cholesterol. Simultaneous ligature of splenic artery and vein, partial splenectomy with preservation of the inferior pole protect against the alterations in the levels of plasmatic lipids observed in rats submitted to total splenectomy in both types of diet.
Spleen; splenectomy; Splenectomy; Splenic artery; Splenic vein; Ligature
