Abstract
The number and sizes of blood platelets, the blood volume, and the sizes and ploidies of megakaryocytes were measured in New Zealand white rabbits that were hypercholesterolaemic as a result of a high cholesterol diet (0.5% cholesterol + 2% peanut oil) that was continued for as long as 19 weeks. Mean platelet volumes were lower than normal, but platelet counts, platelet mass/μl of blood, and blood volumes were normal. The ploidy distribution of megakaryocytes was normal, with 32N being the predominant ploidy group in both hyper- and normocholesterolaemic animals. The average sizes of all mature megakaryocytes and of those within the 16N ploidy group were less than normal. These findings suggest that hyperlipidaemia somehow limits the expansion of megakaryocyte cytoplasm and causes it to fragment into platelets of smaller than normal size.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alpen E L (1966) A new instrument for precision cytophotometry. J Sci Instr 43:443–448
Bianciardi G, Tanganelli P, Palummo N et al. (1991) Platelet function abnormalities in 6–12 month-old Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic (WHHL) rabbits. Thromb Res 64:109–115
Brecher G, Cronkite EP (1950) Morphology and enumeration of human blood platelets. J Appl Physiol 3:365–377
Corash L (1989) The relationship between megakaryocyte ploidy and platelet volume. Blood Cells 15:81–107
Dalal KB, Ebbe S, Mazoyer E et al. (1990) Biochemical and functional abnormalities in hypercholesterolemic rabbit platelets. Lipids 25:86–92
Dupont H, Dupont M, Bricaud H et al. (1983) Megakaryocytes separation in homogeneous classes by unit gravity sedimentation: physico-chemical, ultrastructural and cytophotometric chararine megakaryocyte size and ploidy by non-platelet-dependent mechanisms in radiation-induced megakaryocytopenia. Radiat Res 127:278–284
Ebbe S, Phalen E, Stohlman F Jr (1973a) Abnormalities of megakaryocyte in W/WV mice. Blood 42:857–864
Ebbe S, Phalen E, Stohlman F Jr (1973b) Abnormalities of megakaryocytes in Sl/Sld mice. Blood 42:865–871
Ebbe S, Yee T, Carpenter D et al. (1988) Megakaryocytes increase in size within ploidy groups in response to the stimulus of thrombocytopenia. exp Hematol 16:55–61
Ebbe S, Dalal K, Forte T et al. (1992) Microcytic thrombocytosis, small megakaryocytes, platelet lipids and hyperreactivity to collagen, lymphocytopenia, eosinophilia, and low blood volume in genetically hyperlipidemic rabbits. Exp Hematol 20:486–493
Fand SB (1970) Environmental conditions for optimal Feulgen hydrolysis. In: Weid GL, Bahr GF (eds) Introduction of quantitative cytochemistry-II, Academic Press, New York, pp. 209–221
Garcia AM (1964) Feulgen-DNA values in megakaryocytes. J Cell Biol 20:342–345
Goldstein JL, Kita T, Brown MS (1983) Defective lipoprotein receptors and atherosclerosis. Lessons from an animal counterpart of familial hypercholesterolemia. N Engl J Med 309:288–296
Gross PL, Rand ML, Barrow DV et al. (1991) Platelet function in Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic rabbits. Decreased sensitivity to thromboxane A2. Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis 11:610–616
Harker LA (1968) Kinetics of thrombopiesis. J Clin Invest 47:458–465
Hill RJ, Warren MK, Stenberg P et al. (1991) Stimulation of megakaryocytopoiesis in mice by human recombinant interleukine-6. Blood 77:42–48
Jackson CW, Hutson NK, Steward SA et al. (1988) The Wistar Furth rat: an animal model of hereditary macrothrombocytopenia. Blood 71:1676–1686
Kristensen SD, Roberts KM, Lawry J et al. (1988) Megakaryocyte and vascular changes in, rabbits on a short-term high cholesterol diet. Atherosclerosis 71:121–130
Levin J, Levin C, Hull DF III et al. (1982) The effects of thrombopoietin on megakaryocyte-CFC, megakaryocytes, and thrombopoiesis: with studies of ploidy and platelet size. Blood 60:989–998
Martin JF, Trowbridge EA, Salmon G et al. (1983) The biological significance of platelet volume: its relationship to bleeding time, platelet thromboxane B2 production and megakaryocyte nuclear DNA concentration. Thromb Res 32:443–460
Martin JF, Slater DN, Kishk YT et al. (1985) Platelet and megakaryocyte changes in cholesterol-induced experimental atherosclerosis. Arteriosclerosis 5:604–612
Mazoyer E, Ebbe S, Dalal K et al. (1988) Morphological and kinetic abnormalities of platelets in hypercholesterolemic rabbits. Atherosclerosis 74:23–32
Odell TT Jr, Jackson CW, Friday TJ (1970) Megakaryocytopiesis in rats with special reference to polyploidy. Blood 35:775–782
Ornstein L (1952) The distributional error in microspectrophotometry. Lab Invest 1:250–262
Patau K (1952) Absorption microphotometry of irregular-shaped objects. Chromosoma 5:341–362
Penington DG, Olsen TE (1970) Megakaryocytes in states of altered platelet production: cell numbers, size and DNA content. Br J Haematol 18:447–463
Schick BP, Schick PK (1985) The effect of hypercholesterolemia on guinea pig platelets, erythrocytes and megakaryocytes. Biochim Biophys Acta 833:291–302
Winocour PD, Kinlough-Rathbone RL, Rand ML et al. (1988) Thrombin binding to platelets from hypercholesterolaemic rats. Atherosclerosis 73:215–221
Winocour PD, Rand ML, Kinlough-Rathbone RL et al. (1989) Platelet function and survival in rats with genetically determined hypercholesterolaemia. Atherosclerosis 76:63–70
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ebbel, S., Maurer, H. Size and ploidy of rabbit megakaryocytes in dietary hypercholesterolaemia. Comparative Haematology International 2, 208–212 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00216096
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00216096