title: Effect of paraquat administered intraperitoneally on the nonpolar lipids of rabbits.
abstract: Rabbits were injected intraperitoneally with 3, 6, or 12 mg of paraquat/kg/day for a period of 3, 7, or 14 days. Rabbits receiving 3 or 6 mg of paraquat/kg/day showed a significant loss of body weight at 7 days of the treatment. Liver, kidney, heart, and lungs demonstrated a significant decrease in their weights in the first 3 days of paraquat treatment. A decrease in total lipids, total triglycerides, and total cholesterol of both liver and kidney was observed. This decrease was accompanied by a significant increase in plasma total triglycerides and total cholesterol at 7 days of paraquat treatment. The ratio of cholesterol to cholesterol esters in liver decreased after 3 days of paraquat treatment after which it showed a consistent increase until the 14th day of the paraquat treatment. In kidney, this ratio increased for up to 7 days of paraquat treatment followed by a decrease at the 14th day. These results indicate, contrary to earlier reports, that rabbits are susceptible to paraquat toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Kuwait University.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Afzal
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Gubler
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D004032:Diet; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010269:Paraquat / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D011817:Rabbits; D013997:Time Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol; D010269:Paraquat