Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 17, 2026

Application of Laparoscopic Partial Splenectomy with Total Blood Flow Occlusion in Benign Splenic Lesions
Published on: December 20, 2024
Is there a relationship between lipids metabolism and splenic surgeries?
Luiz Ronaldo Alberti1, Denny Fabrício Magalhães Veloso, Leonardo de Souza Vasconcellos
1Department of Surgery, UFMG, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. luizronaldoa@yahoo.com.br
Purpose:
To assess the influence of spleen surgeries (splenectomy, presence of spleen and after conservative surgeries) on lipids metabolism.
Methods:
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 (VLDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, 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.
Results:
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.
Conclusion:
Splenectomy is related to changes in the lipid metabolism that are reverted by autogenous spleen tissue implants.
Related Concept Videos
Overview of Lipid Metabolism
Lipolysis: The Breakdown of Lipids:
Lipolysis is the process of breaking down lipids, particularly triglycerides, into glycerol and fatty acids. This process typically occurs in the adipose tissue and is triggered by various hormones, including glucagon and...
Pharmacokinetics in Obese Patients: Drug Absorption and Distribution
Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Drug Dosing and Hepatic Blood Flow
Lipid-derived Compounds in the Human Body
Fat-soluble Vitamins
Fat-soluble vitamins, including vitamins A, D, E, and K, are required in minimal quantities, but their deficiencies can lead to severely abnormal physiological conditions. For example, vitamin A deficiency can cause night blindness, dry skin, delayed...
Pharmacokinetics in Obese Patients: Drug Metabolism and Excretion
