Age-related changes in the lipid metabolism of Fisher 344 rats.
Lipid metabolism of male Fisher 344 rats aged 2-24 months was studied. Serum and liver cholesterol levels did not display the age-related gradual increase seen in other rat strains. An increase in the serum plus liver cholesterol pool from 2 to 6 months was followed by a plateau through 18 months and then another increase at 24 months of age. The triglyceride pool increased from 2 to 6 months and then remained unchanged through 24 months of age. Cholesterol synthesis from acetate decreased 50% between 2 and 9 months and fell only slightly through 24 months of age. Assay of 3-hydroxy-3-methyl glutaryl Coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase showed a similar pattern but did not decrease further after 9 months of age. Cholesterol 7alpha hydroxylase activity was not significantly altered by age. These age- and strain-related differences present an opportunity for a comparative study of the aging process using the parameters of lipid metabolism as indicators.
D000085:Acetates / Q000378:metabolism; D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D002790:Cholesterol 7-alpha-Hydroxylase / Q000378:metabolism; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006903:Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases / Q000378:metabolism; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344 / Q000378:metabolism*; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains / Q000378:metabolism*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism
D000085:Acetates; D005227:Fatty Acids; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol; D006903:Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases; D002790:Cholesterol 7-alpha-Hydroxylase