The Influence of Dietary Fats on Plasma and Platelet Lipids and ADP Induced Platelet Thrombosis in the Rat

The relationship between the type and quantity of dietary fat and the incidence of adenosine diphosphate induced platelet thrombosis was studied in rats fed a 10 per cent and 40 per cent saturated fat diet, a 40 per cent fat diet including 8 per cent cottonseed oil and a 40 per cent fat diet including 8 per cent linseed oil. The diets were given for 24 hours or 5 to 6 weeks. Platelet thrombosis was induced in pulmonary capillaries, arterioles, and small arteries by the intravenous injection of ADP. No significant difference in the incidence of thrombosis was observed following a 24 hour feeding period. After a 5 to 6 weeks feeding period, animals given a 40 per cent saturated fat diet had a higher incidence of thrombosis than animals given a 10 per cent saturated fat diet. When the 40 per cent fat diet included cottonseed oil, the incidence of thrombosis due to a low dose of ADP was reduced. When linseed oil was included in the diet, the incidence of thrombosis was reduced when both a low and a high dose of ADP was given. Significant changes occurred in the fatty acid pattern of the plasma and platelet phospholipids in animals fed the diets for 5 to 6 weeks. The diets induced small changes in the quantity of the main plasma lipid fractions.