Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity in the liver of rats with experimental hyperthyroxinemia and hypothyroidism

The activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase was investigated in liver of hyperthyroxinemic or hypothyreotic rats. The enzyme activity level in hyperthyroxic rats. The enzyme activity level in hyperthyroxinemic animals was significantly elevated in contrast to the hypothyreotic rats, who showed significantly reduced enzyme activity. The protein concentration in liver extracts of hyperthyroxinemic animals was slightly elevated, while hypothyreotic animals showed significantly reduced protein content of the extract.     

Malate dehydrogenase and lactate dehydrogenase in the serum of hyperthyroxinemic and hypothyroid rats]

In serum of hyperthyroxinemic and hypothyreotic rats the activities of MDH and LDH were investigated. In both groups the level of MDH was significantly elevated in comparison with control animals. The activity of LDH did not show any significant alterations.     

Effects of Three Bacterial Infections on Serum Lipids of Rabbits

Alteration of the rabbit serum lipids as a result of three bacterial infections was studied by quantitative thin-layer and gas-liquid chromatography. Anthrax infection slightly changed the serum lipid. Cholesterol did not change, though free fatty acids, triglycerides, and cholesteryl esters doubled, and lecithin increased threefold. Tularemia infection produced drastic changes in the serum lipid content of rabbits, increasing levels of cholesterol over 4-fold, free fatty acids 17-fold, triglycerides 11-fold, cholesteryl esters 2.5-fold, and lecithin almost 3-fold. Pneumococcus infection increased cholesterol 2.5 times, free fatty acids were more than doubled, triglycerides were increased 9.5 times, and lecithin was increased almost 4 times. Gas-liquid chromatographic analysis of the methyl esters of free fatty acids showed only quantitative changes in these acids due to infection. Some possible mechanisms of alteration of serum lipid content are discussed.     

Effect of short-term or intermittent hypobaric hypoxia on plasma lipids in young rats

Changes in the level of plasma lipids (cholesterol, fatty acids and lipoproteins) were followed in young rats exposed once or repeatedly to hypobaric hypoxia. A single exposure to hypoxia increased the level of LDL lipoproteins but did not influence the concentration of cholesterol and fatty acids in 18-day-old rats. Repeated exposure to hypobaric hypoxia caused a statistically significant increase in the concentration of cholesterol, fatty acids, chylomicra, low density beta-lipoproteins (LDL) and very-low-density beta-lipoproteins (VLDL) in 18-day-old rats, while the level of high-density alpha-lipoproteins (HDL) decreased. In animals that had been repeatedly exposed to hypoxia in their youth, a significant decrease of the LDL lipoprotein fraction was observed at the age of 108 days.     

Utilization of exogenous free fatty acids for the production of very low density lipoprotein triglyceride by livers of carbohydrate-fed rats

High carbohydrate diets enhance the hepatic output of very low density lipoprotein triglycerides. The fatty acids of these triglycerides could come from exogenous sources (i.e., diet or adipose tissue) or from de novo fatty acid synthesis in the liver. The role of exogenous free fatty acids was evaluated in rats fed Purina Chow or diets containing 10% fructose for up to 14 wk. In carbohydrate-fed rats, serum triglycerides were twice normal, and VLDL accounted for about 60% of the increases. Pre-beta-lipoprotein was increased and alpha- and beta-lipoprotein were decreased. Phospholipid and cholesterol levels were unchanged. Livers were perfused with glucose and free fatty acids. Perfusate free fatty acids rose from 180 to 1800 micro eq/liter as the infused acids increased from 0 to 992 micro eq/3 hr; simultaneously, net free fatty acid uptake rose from < 1 to 18 micro eq/g/hr and triglyceride output by the liver doubled. However, rates of secretion of triglyceride became constant, and triglyceride accumulated in liver at uptakes of free fatty acids > 13 micro eq/g/hr. More lauric and myristic acid appeared in the perfusate than was infused, suggesting the hepatic discharge of free fatty acids. Livers of fructose-fed rats secreted twice as much oleate-(14)C-labeled triglyceride as controls at all levels of free fatty acid uptake. The ratios of the specific activities of perfusate triglyceride to free oleate-(14)C were unaffected by diet and were about 0.6 and 1.0 at low and high triglyceride secretion rates, respectively. Thus, carbohydrate feeding did not result in altered uptakes of free fatty acids or preferential secretion of triglycerides containing endogenously synthesized fatty acid. Instead, the increased secretion of triglyceride was accomplished by enhanced formation of VLDL triglyceride from exogenous free fatty acids.     

Biochemical and morphometric studies of heart, liver and skeletal muscle from the hibernating, arousing and aroused big brown bat, Eptesicus fuscus

Heart, liver, pectoralis major, and plasma of hibernating, arousing and aroused bats were studied. The activities of four mitochondrial enzymes and three morphometric parameters of mitochondria did not change in the heart. Mitochondrial enzyme activities in the liver and pectoralis major did not change. Lactate dehydrogenase activity and isoenzyme content in heart, liver and pectoralis major did not change. Heart lipid content determined morphometrically decreased transiently after 30 min arousal from hibernation. Plasma free fatty acid concentration increased significantly by 7.5 min and peaked at 15 min after arousal from hibernation. Concentrations of heart free fatty acids, triglycerides, glycerol, and cholesterol and liver triglycerides did not change.     

Biological effects of Spirometra erinacei plerocercoids in several species of rodents

Observations were made of the biological effects on infection with plerocercoids of Spirometra erinacei on normal female Snell mice, male chinese hamsters, golden hamsters, normal and hypox rats. Plerocercoid infection caused the strongest growth-promoting effect on normal Snell mice. In mice, this effect appears to be independent of strain. Chinese hamsters infected with these larvae showed similar growth. The infected normal rats and golden hamsters, however, showed a weight increase in the skeletal muscle only, while the hypox rats exhibited no effect at all. The elevation in the concentration of serum triglyceride was observed in all the animals investigated except for rats. Golden hamsters, in particular, exhibited a marked increase in the concentration of serum free fatty acids and total cholesterol. There was close correlation between the concentrations of serum triglyceride and free fatty acids, and the regression coefficient of the resulting linear regression equation for the experimentals was higher than that for the controls. This suggests that serum triglyceride results from an increased concentration of serum free fatty acids derived from stimulated lipolysis. The total cholesterol concentration in the serum decreased in chinese hamsters infected with larvae. The serum glucose concentration increased in normal Snell mice but decreased in chinese and golden hamsters. No difference in glycerol and free fatty acid concentration was observed in infected animals except for golden hamsters.     

Effect of triiodothyronine on blood lipids in obesity.

Different blood lipid components were evaluated in obese and normal Egyptians. In obese, plasma levels of total lipoproteins, beta-lipoprotein, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and non-esterified fatty acids were found to be significantly elevated. The plasma levels of esterified cholesterol and phospholipids were found to be significantly reduced. Tertroxine caused a drop of the plasma level of total lipoproteins, beta lipoproteins and total cholesterol and rise of plasma level of non-esterified fatty acids.     

Lipid composition of liver peroxisomes isolated from untreated and clofibrate-treated mice and rats

Peroxisomes were isolated from liver tissue of control and clofibrate-treated adult male NMRI mice and Sprague-Dawley rats. Phospholipids, cholesterol, triglycerides and free fatty acids were measured in the peroxisomes. The fatty acid profiles of the phosphatidylethanolamine, the phosphatidylcholine, the triglyceride and the free fatty acid fractions were also analyzed. Phosphatidylethanolamine was the dominating phospholipid in peroxisomes from untreated animals. The fatty acid profiles of phosphatidylethanolamine, free fatty acids and triglycerides were similar for untreated mice and rats but differences between the species were observed in the pattern derived from phosphatidylcholine. Phosphatidylcholine was the most abundant phospholipid after clofibrate treatment. Clofibrate treatment caused an increase in the concentrations of phospholipids and unsaturated long-chain fatty acids and a decrease in the concentrations of triglycerides, free fatty acids, cholesterol and shorter saturated fatty acids.     

Preparation of human cord sera for enzymatic triglyceride assays: removal of free glycerol by ultrafiltration

Enzymatic triglyceride assays that generate glycerol from triglycerides as a part of the enzymatic process in quantitating serum triglyceride levels give elevated values when external free glycerol is present. Our objective was to develop an ultrafiltration technique that would remove exogenous and/or endogenous free glycerol from small aliquots of human cord sera so that accurate serum triglyceride values could be obtained with the commercially available triglyceride assay kits. Exogenous glycerol was completely removed from cord sera when the samples were washed twice with saline in Amicon Centricon-30 microconcentrators. This ultrafiltration technique lowered cord serum triglyceride levels significantly (P less than 0.001), but had no effect on cord total serum cholesterol levels. A comparison of washed and unwashed cord sera by either polyacrylamide or agarose gel electrophoresis indicated that the serum protein and lipoprotein profiles were not altered by the ultrafiltration process.     

Antihyperlipidemic effect of D-pinitol on streptozotocin-induced diabetic Wistar rats

D-pinitol (3-O-methyl-chiroinositol), an active principle of the traditional antidiabetic plant, Bougainvillea spectabilis, is claimed to exert insulin-like effects. This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of D-pinitol on lipids and lipoproteins in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic Wistar rats. Rats were made type II diabetic by single intraperitoneal injection of STZ at a dose of 40 mg/kg body weight. STZ-induced diabetic rats showed significant (p < 0.05) increase in the levels of blood glucose and total cholesterol, triglycerides, free fatty acids, and phospholipids in serum, liver, kidney, heart, and brain. The levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol were significantly increased, and the level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol was significantly decreased in diabetic rats Oral administration of D-pinitol to STZ-induced diabetic rats showed significant (p < 0.05) decrease in the levels of blood glucose and total cholesterol, triglycerides, free fatty acids, and phospholipids in serum, liver, kidney, heart, and brain. The D-pinitol also lowered significantly (p < 0.05) LDL and VLDL cholesterol levels and increased significantly (p < 0.05) HDL cholesterol levels in the serum of diabetic rats. Thus, the present study clearly showed the antihyperlipidemic effect of D-pinitol in STZ-induced type II diabetic rats.     

Effect of dietary ghee--the anhydrous milk fat, on blood and liver lipids in rats

Dairy products are important sources of dietary fat in India. Anhydrous milk fat, viz., ghee, is consumed as such in the diet and also is used for frying the dishes. Ghee contains high levels of saturated fatty acids and cholesterol, which are considered risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. In the present study, ghee, at levels ranging from 0.25 to 10%, was included in a nutritionally balanced AIN-76 diet fed to Wistar rats for a period of 8 weeks. The serum lipid profiles of these animals showed a dose dependent decrease in total cholesterol, low density lipoproteins and very low density lipoproteins cholesterol, and triglyceride levels when ghee was present at levels greater than 2.5% in the diet. Liver cholesterol and triglycerides also were decreased in these animals. When ghee was included as a sole source of fat at a 10% level, polyunsaturated fatty acids in the serum and liver lipids were reduced significantly. Similar results were observed when ghee was subjected to a higher temperature (120 degrees C) to generate cholesterol oxidation products and fed to the animals. Although cholesterol oxidation products were not accumulated in serum, significant amounts were accumulated in liver only when ghee was fed as a sole source of fat at a 10% level. This study revealed that the consumption of ghee up to a 10% level in the diet altered blood lipid profiles in such a manner as not to elevate the risk factors for cardiovascular diseases.     

A reliable analysis of tissue free fatty acids by gas-liquid chromatography

A convenient and reliable gas-liquid chromatographic method for determining the free fatty acids in biological specimens is described. The free fatty acids were extracted with hexane in the presence of H3PO4 and then back-extracted from the hexane phase into a very small volume of trimethyl (alpha, alpha, alpha-trifluoro-m-tolyl)ammonium hydroxide solution. Direct injection of the resultant quaternary ammonium salts of the fatty acids into a gas-liquid chromatograph unit gave their methyl esters, with a high recovery. The presence of triglycerides, phospholipids, or cholesterol esters did not interfere with the determination of free fatty acids. This method was applied to determination of free fatty acids in the samples of serum or brain. The results were more precise and reliable than those reported with the conventional methods with TLC separation. This method should be a useful aid for providing precise information about the physiological or pathological roles of free fatty acids.     

Lipid metabolism in rabbits exposed to paraquat aerosol

In order to examine the effects of paraquat on pulmonary lipid metabolism rabbits were exposed to double distilled water by aerosol, or 250 mg paraquat in double distilled water. One hour prior to sacrifice, a group of rabbits were injected with [2?¹⁴C]-acetate. The levels of phospholipids, fatty acids, cholesterol, and triglycerides were determined as were their ¹⁴C-contents in the lung, broncoalveolar lavage fluid, serum, and liver. The serum of paraquat-exposed animals contained significantly increased levels of phospholipids, cholesterol, and triglycerides. Liver, lung, and bronchoalveolar lavage contained less than or equal to control levels of phospholipids, cholesterol, and triglycerides. Percent of palmitate in the hepatic fatty acid profile was slightly increased in liver but not in lung. The source of the increased lipids in the serum is unknown.     

Nutritional evaluation of structured lipid containing omega 6 fatty acid synthesized from coconut oil in rats

Coconut oil is rich in medium chain fatty acids, but deficient in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). Structured lipids (SL) enriched with omega 6 PUFA were synthesized from coconut oil triglycerides by employing enzymatic acidolysis with free fatty acids obtained from safflower oil. Rats were fed a diet containing coconut oil, coconut oil-safflower oil blend (1:0.7 w/w) or structured lipid at 10% levels for a period of 60 days. The SL lowered serum cholesterol levels by 10.3 and 10.5% respectively in comparison with those fed coconut oil and blended oil. Similarly the liver cholesterol levels were also decreased by 35.9 and 26.6% respectively in animals fed structured lipids when compared to those fed on coconut oil or the blended oil. Most of the decrease observed in serum cholesterol levels of animals fed structured lipids was found in LDL fraction. The triglyceride levels in serum showed a decrease by 17.5 and 17.4% while in the liver it was reduced by 45.8 and 23.5% in the structured lipids fed animals as compared to those fed coconut oil or blended oil respectively. Differential scanning calorimetric studies indicated that structured lipids had lower melting points and solid fat content when compared to coconut oil or blended oils. These studies indicated that enrichment of coconut oil triglycerides with omega 6 fatty acids lowers its solid fat content. The omega 6 PUFA enriched structured lipids also exhibited hypolipidemic activity.     

Studies on the lipid composition in serum and lymphocytes in chronic leukemia]

In 33 patients with chronic lymphatic leukaemia (CLL) the lipids were examined quantitatively and qualitatively in the serum and in the lymphocytes. Besides the 5 main categories of lipids, lysolecithin, sphingomyelin, lecithin and cephalin as well as cholesterol ester subfractions were determined according to their degree of saturation of their fatty acids. Patients suffering from CLL were found to have a moderately raise of serum triglycerides and an increase of cholesterol esters with simple unsaturated fatty acids. Simultaneously the fraction of ester with poly-unsaturated fatty acids is lowered. Leukaemic lymphocytes reveal in general a lowered total lipid content. It mainly consists of phosphatides and free cholesterol. Moreover, the leukaemic lymphocytes contrary to normal ones reveal a lowered content of cholesterol esters, diglycerides and triglycerides.     

Increased glucose disappearance rate after short-term clofibrate administration in normal subjects and in patients with chemical diabetes

Following seven days clofibrate administration, the glucose disappearance rate during an intravenous glucose tolerance test was significantly increased in 6 normal subjects and in 11 patients with chemical diabetes. Both the acute and the total insulin secretory response were unchanged. Though fasting serum levels of free fatty acids, triglycerides, and cholesterol were significantly lowered by treatment, no correlation was found between the decrease in serum lipids and the increase in glucose disappearance rate. It is suggested and clofibrate improves glucose utilization by reducing insulin resistance irrespective of its effects on serum lipids concentration.     

Effect of electrical stimulation of the hypothalamus on plasma free fatty acid concentration in cats

The effect of electrical stimulation of various hypothalamic regions on levels of plasma free fatty acids, glucose, triglycerides, and cholesterol was studied in fasted cats. Appreciable changes were observed in plasma free fatty acids and glucose but not in plasma triglycerides or cholesterol. These changes appeared to be dependent upon small differences in the placement of electrodes and could not be related to a distinct hypothalamic locus. The results indicate that there is a dissociation between hypothalamic neurons that may affect plasma glucose concentration and those that may affect the plasma free fatty acids. It is suggested that the hypothalamus of the cat contains neurons that may influence autonomic discharge to adipose tissue and thus affect the plasma free fatty acid level and other neurons that may influence autonomic discharge to the liver and thus affect glucose output into the circulation. The distribution of both types of neurons is not limited to a distinct region of the hypothalamus in cats.     

Accelerated clearance of plasma triglycerides and free fatty acids in omega3-depleted rats.

The present study aims mainly at exploring the effects of a severe depletion in polyunsaturated long-chain omega3 fatty acids upon the fate of circulating lipids. The plasma concentration and fatty acid pattern of triglycerides, diglycerides, free fatty acids, and phospholipids were measured in omega3-depleted and control rats injected intravenously one hour before sacrifice with either saline, a control medium-chain triglyceride:olive oil emulsion or a medium-chain triglyceride:fish oil emulsion recently found to rapidly increase the phospholipid content of C20:5omega3 and C22:6omega3 in different cell types. The estimated fractional removal rate of the injected triglycerides and the clearance of free fatty acids from circulation were both higher in omega3-depleted rats than in control animals. The injection of the lipid emulsions apparently inhibited intracellular lipolysis, this being least pronounced in omega3-depleted rats. The increased clearance of circulating triglycerides and unesterified fatty acids in omega3-depleted rats may favor the cellular accumulation of lipids. In turn, such an accumulation and the lesser regulatory inhibition of tissular lipolysis may match the increased clearance of circulating unesterified fatty acids and, hence, account for the lack of any significant difference in plasma unesterified fatty acid concentration between these and control animals.     

The Effects of Dietary Iron and Capsaicin on Hemoglobin,Blood Glucose,Insulin Tolerance,Cholesterol, and Triglycerides,in Healthy and Diabetic Wistar Rats

ObjectiveOur aim was to assess the effects of dietary iron, and the compound capsaicin, on hemoglobin as well as metabolic indicators including blood glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, insulin, and glucose tolerance.ResultsHealthy rats fed a low-iron diet exhibited significantly reduced total cholesterol and triglyceride levels, compared with rats fed a control diet. Significantly reduced blood lipid was also provoked by low dietary iron in diabetic rats, compared with those fed a control diet. Insulin, and glucose tolerance was only improved in healthy rats fed the low-iron diet. Significant increases in total cholesterol were found in diabetic rats fed a high-iron diet, compared with healthy rats fed the same diet, although no statistical differences were found for triglycerides. Hemoglobin levels, which were not statistically different in diabetic versus healthy rats fed the high-iron diet, fell when capsaicin was added. Capsaicin also provoked a fall in the level of cholesterol and triglycerides in diabetic animals, versus diabetics fed with the high iron diet alone. In conclusion, low levels of dietary iron reduced levels of serum triglycerides, hemoglobin, and cholesterol, and significantly improved insulin, and glucose tolerance in healthy rats. In contrast, a high-iron diet increased cholesterol significantly, with no significant changes to triglyceride concentrations. The addition of capsaicin to the high-iron diet (for diabetic rats) further reduced levels of hemoglobin, cholesterol, and triglycerides. These results suggest that capsaicin, may be suitable for the treatment of elevated hemoglobin, in patients.