Changes in the profiles of rodent plasma lipoproteins and apolipoproteins after cholesterol feeding

Profiling of plasma lipoprotein distribution and apolipoprotein analysis were carried out semi-quantitatively by strictly controlled gel-filtration and SDS slab-gel electrophoresis for rats (Sprague-Dawley rats and ExHC rats), mice and hamsters. The effects of cholesterol feeding on lipoprotein and apolipoprotein patterns of these animals were also studied. HDL were major lipoproteins in all the animals. Hamsters had the most abundant lower density lipoproteins among the rodents with the ratio of cholesterol content between high density lipoproteins and lower density lipoproteins being about 1:1. After cholesterol feeding, the cholesterol content of lower density lipoproteins increased in all the animals. The increase was the greatest in ExHC rats and the least in mice. The profiling methods employed should be of value in determining the changes in the lipoprotein and apolipoprotein patterns of both experimental animals and man.