Plasma lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations in the golden-mantled ground squirrel (Spermophilus lateralis): a comparison between pre-hibernators and hibernators.
1. The concentrations of total cholesterol (free cholesterol plus cholesteryl ester) in the plasma and in two lipoprotein fractions of golden-mantled ground squirrels (Spermophilus lateralis) were measured during pre-hibernation and compared to those values measured during hibernation. 2. Hibernating ground squirrels had significantly higher (P less than 0.005) very low density lipoprotein plus low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL + LDL-C) concentrations than did pre-hibernating ground squirrels. 3. Hibernating squirrels additionally exhibited significantly higher (P less than 0.005) total plasma cholesterol concentration per high density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration (TPC/HDL-C) ratios than did pre-hibernating squirrels. 4. The significant differences in the lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations observed in this study suggest that lipoprotein metabolism in pre-hibernators was significantly different from that in hibernators and was a reflection of the marked biochemical and physiological adjustments these animals must undergo during their transition from pre-hibernation to hibernation.
Russom
J M
JM
Department of Biology, California State University, Los Angeles 90032.
Guba
G R
GR
Sanchez
D
D
Tam
C F
CF
Lopez
G A
GA
Garcia
R E
RE
D000818:Animals; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D015243:Cholesterol, VLDL / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006605:Hibernation / Q000502:physiology*; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D011973:Receptors, LDL / Q000378:metabolism; D012589:Sciuridae / Q000097:blood*
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D015243:Cholesterol, VLDL; D008074:Lipoproteins; D011973:Receptors, LDL; C030104:lipoprotein cholesterol; D002784:Cholesterol