Aspects of cholesterol metabolism in normal and hypercholesterolemic Syrian hamsters. Influence of fenofibrate.
This study reports the short-term effects of fenofibrate in golden Syrian hamsters receiving a standard or cholesterol enriched (0.5%) diet. In chow fed control animals, the plasma cholesterol (132 mg/dl) was transported essentially by LDL (27%) and HDL (56%). Conversely, the bulk of triglycerides (114 mg/dl) circulated in VLDL (54%). One week of hypercholesterolemic diet increased plasma cholesterol (+80%) and it is reflected in a 3.3-fold increase in VLDL, 2.8-fold in IDL, 1.6-fold in LDL and 1.5-fold in HDL, accompanied by a rise in cholesterol hepatic level by a factor of 4.5. 15 days of treatment with fenofibrate (300 mg/kg/d) produced a decrease in free plasma cholesterol (-21%) without modification in total cholesterol level in chow fed animals. In liver, cholesterol was reduced by 27% and triglycerides were raised by 58%. In animals receiving the hypercholesterolemic diet, fenofibrate increased hepatic and plasmatic triglyceride levels (55 and 54%, respectively), although it slightly reduced plasma cholesterol levels and more markedly the hepatic cholesterol content (-55%). In chow fed animals, cholesterol biosynthesis was decreased by fenofibrate treatment by 40%. The effects of fenofibrate on triglyceride levels are in contrast to experiences in other animal species, including man, and indicate a hypersecretion of chylomicrons and/or a hypersecretion of VLDL, although the explanations are not yet obvious. The results concerning cholesterol metabolism indicate similarities between man and hamster.
Plancke
M O
MO
Institut Pasteur de Lille, SERLIA, France.
Olivier
P
P
Clavey
V
V
Marzin
D
D
Fruchart
J C
JC
D000818:Animals; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism*; D006224:Cricetinae; D005260:Female; D011345:Fenofibrate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000378:metabolism*; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008647:Mesocricetus; D011422:Propionates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D008055:Lipids; D008074:Lipoproteins; D011422:Propionates; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol; D011345:Fenofibrate