Ex vivo investigation of blood monocyte and platelet behaviour in pigs maintained on an atherogenic diet.

Domestic pigs aged 4 months were fed for 16 weeks an atherogenic diet rich in cholesterol and saturated fatty acid. The increase of plasma cholesterol and triacylglycerol levels was found to be accompanied by a significant increase in the number of blood monocytes and platelets when compared to control animals. Furthermore, the atherogenic diet produced a small but significant reduction in the blood monocyte phagocytic capacity and adhesion to plastic surface. No significant differences between both groups were found when spontaneous platelet aggregation in whole blood was studied. However, platelets from pigs fed the atherogenic diet had a smaller mean cell volume compared to controls. The results indicate than an atherogenic diet may affect blood monocytes and platelets in pigs.