Long-term effect of amphotericin B on serum cholesterol in the rat

Amphotericin B (1mg/kg/day) was administered intravenously to rats for 30 days, with simultaneous sham (5% dextrose in saline) injections to control animals. After four treatments, serum cholesterol concentration among treated animals demonstrated a maximum decrease of 25% (p less than 0.005) from the control level. Serum cholesterol returned to control level after three more treatments, and no significant difference (p greater than 0.05) was observed in experimental animals, despite continued treatment thereafter. Various hematological and biochemical parameters were monitored at intervals during this period. Except for significantly elevated (p less than 0.001) plasma urea nitrogen in treated animals, no significant difference was observed between the control and treated animals with regard to other parameters. Gross examination at autopsy, followed by microscopic study, showed absence of organ pathology.