Dietary Cholesterol-Induced Hyperlipidemia Modulates Lipid Synthesis in Rabbit Monocytes.

Abstract

SummaryLipid synthesis in monocytes isolated from rabbits fed a high-cholesterol diet and subsequently a low-cholesterol one was examined. Rabbits were fed diet containing 2.5% (w/w) cholesterol for 3 weeks and then transferred to a normal diet for another 6 weeks. The total and free cholesterol levels in the blood increased up to 3 weeks and then steadily decreased. Esterified cholesterol increased only during the first week on the high-cholesterol diet and then decreased throughout the remainder of the experimental period. Lipid synthesis, as assessed by [1-1 4C]acetate incorporation , was significantly reduced in monocytes isolated from animals on the high-cholesterol diet. This reduction in lipid synthetic activity continued another 3 weeks even after cessation of the high-cholesterol diet and then lipid synthesis was rather increased significantly. Specifically an increase in cholesterol and fatty acid synthesis was observed when animals were fed a high-cholesterol diet for 3 weeks and then allowed to recover for another 6 weeks.