Studies on alterations in blood coagulative and fibrinolytic activities in high cholesterol diet induced hyperlipidemic rabbits

• Published in: Japanese Journal of Pharmacology 1995, Vol.67 (suppl.1), p.100-100
• Main Authors: Kouzou Ichino, Shino Usami, Masako Okazaki, Katsuji Oguchi
• Format: Article
• Language: Japanese
• ISSN: 0021-5198

Relationship to thrombo-embolic complications in hyperlipidemia and atheroscrelosis is not yet clearly understood. The present study was undertaken to examine the coagulative and fibrinolytic activity in male rabbits (14-15 weeks) fed on a high cholesterol diet (HCD). Blood specimens were taken from the ear blood vessel of rabbits monthly for 6 months. About one fourth of rabbits fed on the HCD died of thromboembolia. In HCD rabbits, very high levels of plasma lipids, VLDL-LDL lipids and atherosclerotic index were maintained for all the experimental periods. Partial increases in fibrinogen level and activity of plasminogen activator inhibitor were observed. The increase in activity of antithrombin III, plasminogen and tissue-type plasminogen activator and partial decrease in α_2 -plasmin inhibitor were found. The apparent atheromatous plaques in aortic arch and thoracic aorta were observed 3 to 6 months after HCD feeding. These results suggest that the early enhancement of coagulation with high activity of fibrinolysis is involved in the induction of hyperlipidemic thromboembolism and atherosclerosis in HCD rabbits.