Effects of Cholesterol Feeding on Plasma and Liver Cholesterol Levels in the Hypophysectomized Rat. ∗

Summary

Intact and hypophysectomized male rats were fed a cholesterol-free and cholesterol-supplemented diet for 30 days and the effects of these rations determined on plasma and liver cholesterol and liver total lipid levels. On the cholesterol-free diet plasma cholesterol levels were moderately higher in hypophysectomized rats than in intact rats; no significant differences were observed between the 2 groups in liver cholesterol and liver total lipid values. On the cholesterol-supplemented diet, hypophysectomized rats exhibited a significantly higher increment in plasma and liver cholesterol and liver total lipids than occurred in intact rats. Desiccated thyroid when fed at a 0.05% level in the diet largely counteracted the increment in plasma cholesterol and partially counteracted the increment in liver cholesterol and liver total lipid induced by cholesterol feeding in the hypophysectomized rat.