Circulating lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations in the summer-active ground squirrel (Spermophilus lateralis): a comparison with those in humans and rabbits.
1. The concentrations of total cholesterol (free cholesterol plus cholesteryl ester) in the sera and in two lipoprotein fractions of golden-mantled ground squirrels (Spermophilus lateralis) were measured and compared to those found in humans and New Zealand White rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). 2. Squirrels showed significantly higher concentrations of total serum cholesterol (TSC; P less than 0.0005), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C; P less than 0.0005), and very low density plus low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL + LDL-C; P less than 0.0005) than those in rabbits. 3. Squirrels had significantly higher TSC (P less than 0.0005) and HDL-C (P less than 0.0005) concentrations than did humans. 4. Squirrels additionally exhibited significantly lower TSC/HDL-C ratios than did rabbits (P less than 0.005) or humans (P less than 0.0005). 5. The significant differences in lipoprotein metabolism observed in this study between the active hibernator and non-hibernators, may reflect the marked biochemical and physiological adjustments hibernating species make throughout their circannual cycle.
Department of Biology, California State University, Los Angeles 90032.
J M
JM
Russom
G R
GR
Guba
L L
LL
Rodriguez
R E
RE
Garcia
C F
CF
Tam
G A
GA
Lopez
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; D006801:Humans; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D010507:Periodicity; D011817:Rabbits; D012589:Sciuridae / Q000097:blood*; D013045:Species Specificity
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D015243:Cholesterol, VLDL; D008074:Lipoproteins; C030104:lipoprotein cholesterol; D002784:Cholesterol