Plasma lipid alterations after total splenectomy, subtotal splenectomy and splenic auto-implants in rats

The relation between the spleen and lipid metabolism has not been properly studied. In order to contribute to the filling of this gap, in the present investigation we experimentally assessed the lipidogram of rats in the presence of the spleen, in asplenia, and after conservative spleen surgeries.

Fifty female Wistar rats of similar weight and age were divided into five groups submitted to the following procedures: group 1: control, with an intact spleen; group 2: sham operation; group 3: total splenectomy; group 4: subtotal splenectomy; and group 5: total splenectomy complemented with autogenous spleen tissue implants. Four months after the interventions, serum triglycerides, total cholesterol and fractions (very-low-density lipoprotein [VLDL]-cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein [LDL]-cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein [HDL]-cholesterol) were determined. The results for the four groups were compared by analysis of variance followed by the Tukey-Kramer test, with the level of significance set at P < 0.05.

There were no differences between groups 1, 2, 4 and 5. In the animals submitted to total splenectomy, total cholesterol (P = 0.0151) and LDL-cholesterol fraction concentrations (P < 0.0001) were higher, whereas HDL-cholesterol fraction concentrations were lower (P = 0.0026) than those detected in the other groups. There was no difference in triglycerides (P = 0.1571) or VLDL-cholesterol (P = 0.2527) between groups.

The spleen probably plays an important role in the lipid metabolism of female rats and total splenectomy may be related to changes in cholesterol control. It is possible that preservation of spleen tissue prevents such metabolic disorders.