[Serum lipids in experimental atherosclerosis in guinea pigs treated with protein hydrolysate]

The authors carried out studies on 223 male guinea pigs, weighting from 350 to 500 gm, fed with a diet containing 0,3% of cholesterol, disolved in cow butter. A part of the animals were injected with protein hydrolysate every other day for a period of 140 days. The level of serum lipids-total cholesterol, beta-lipoproteins, phospholipids and total lipids was examined. They found significantly higher values in the animals, receiving cholesterol in comparison with the control animals-292.4:84.9; 139.4:59.3; 457.1:241.2; 105.5:62.0 respectively for, beta-lipoproteins, total cholesterol, total lipids and phospholipids. The administration of protein hydrolysate in a dose of 0,5 ml/100 gm of body weight affected favourably fat metabolism. The increase of serum fat-lipid components was less manifested in comparison with the nontreated atherosclerotic animals. The greatest difference was found in beta-lipoproteins (292.4:143.8) and total, lipids (457.1:300.8). Statistically significant difference was established in total cholesterol as well. (139.4:81.9). There was an impression that this effect was due to the protective action of aminoacids of the protein hydrolysate on the normal functions of liver and the favourable effect on the tunover of the administered cholesterol.