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Strain-specific response to hypercholesterolaemic diets in the rat
A Bottger1, M den Bieman, A E Lankhorst
1Department of Laboratory Animal Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, The Netherlands.
Laboratory Animals
|April 1, 1996
Summary
Rat strain differences significantly impact cholesterol levels when fed hypercholesterolemic diets. Some strains showed higher responses to diets with added sodium cholate, indicating genetic variability in cholesterol metabolism.
Area of Science:
- Animal models
- Nutritional science
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Hypercholesterolemia is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
- Understanding genetic variability in cholesterol metabolism is crucial for developing targeted interventions.
- Dietary factors play a key role in modulating plasma cholesterol levels.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the cholesterolaemic effect of two hypercholesterolaemic diets in 12 inbred rat strains.
- To identify rat strains with differential responses to dietary cholesterol and bile acid.
- To explore correlations between plasma lipids and liver cholesterol levels.
Main Methods:
- Feeding 12 inbred rat strains with two types of hypercholesterolaemic diets for a specified period.
- Measuring plasma cholesterol, phospholipid, and triglyceride levels.
- Analyzing liver cholesterol content post-dietary intervention.
Main Results:
- Significant strain-specific differences in plasma cholesterol response were observed for both diets.
- Certain strains (BN, LEW) were consistently hyperresponders, while others (DA, SHR, BC, WAG, LOU, PVG, BUF) were hyporesponders.
- Diet II, supplemented with sodium cholate, induced a higher cholesterol response in strains LOU, PVG, SHR, and WKY compared to Diet I.
- No correlation was found between plasma cholesterol response and liver cholesterol levels.
- A positive correlation was observed between plasma cholesterol response and changes in plasma phospholipid levels for both diets.
Conclusions:
- Inbred rat strains exhibit distinct genetic predispositions to diet-induced hypercholesterolemia.
- Sodium cholate in the diet can exacerbate hypercholesterolemia in susceptible rat strains.
- Plasma phospholipid levels are closely associated with cholesterol response, suggesting their role in cholesterol transport or metabolism.