Anemia of rabbits fed a cholesterol-containing diet

¹ Departments of Physiology and Anatomy, University of Tennessee, Memphis, Tennessee

The anemia developed by rabbits fed a cholesterol-containing diet seems to be of the hemolytic type. A striking increase in reticulocyte count, the appearance of nucleated red cells of different maturity in the peripheral circulation, anisocytosis, anisochromia and erythrocytes with punctate basophilia are characteristic findings on stained films and are the first symptoms of the progressing anemia. The red cell count decreases and reaches the lowest level at about the 8th–12th week of exposure of the animals to cholesterol. Cr⁵¹ survival studies revealed a shortened T 1/2:3.7 days compared to 12 days, which is the established normal value under our conditions. The results of cross-transfusion studies are interpreted as the indication that the anemia is developed as the consequence of the production of red cells with decreased resistance.