Anemia and hypercholesterolemia in cholesterol-fed rabbits

The anemia observed in cholesterol-fed rabbits is biphasic. The initial phase of the anemia is dilutional in origin and is followed by a second phase which is hemolytic. Hypercholesterolemia is present in both phases; however, in the hemolytic phase, increased red cell cholesterol levels are present. During both phases, irregularly shaped red cells are seen. The abnormally shaped red cells do not appear to be causally related to increased red cell lipid levels nor are they related to the shortened red cell life-span.