Hemorheological and biochemical parameters in the "fatty" rat

The essential part played by rheological factors in genesis of thrombosis and atherosclerosis has often been mentioned. Thus the authors have carried out a study of rheological and biochemical parameters on a genetic animal model with modifications in plasma lipids (homozygous obese "Fatty" rat) compared to the non obese heterozygous animal. The results obtained for the evolution of biochemical parameters (blood glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides) over a 16 months period confirm those published earlier. Further, a significant increase in fibrinogen level was observed in homozygous animals, and correlated with plasma viscosity. There results are also connected with changes in apparent blood viscosity which is considerably increased in homozygous rats, particularly at low shear rates (gamma less than 20 s-1). These results show the value of this animal model and the authors suggest the application of such a genetic animal model and of its heterozygous control population to both theoretical rheological and pharmacological studies on atherogenesis and hyperlipoproteinaemia.