Terephthalic Acid in Sprague‐Dawley Rats as a Hypolipidemic Agent

Abstract

Terephthalic acid at 20 mg/kg/day in lowered serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels in rats. The cholesterol content was lowered in the lipoprotein fractions. The effects of the agents on de novo lipid synthesis showed that similar enzymes were affected in rat liver and small intestinal mucosa cells as when compared to in vitro tissue culture cells from rats and humans, e.g. reduction of acyl CoA cholesterol acyl transferase and elevation of neutral cholesterol ester hydrolase activities suggest that net cholesterol esters deposition in foam cells should be reduced and plaque growth should be slowed. The suppression of LDL receptor binding and degradation by the drug suggest that less apoB lipoproteins are taken up by peripheral tissues. The elevated HDL receptor binding and internalization in the liver suggest that the drug accelerates cholesterol return to the liver. Additional studies show that cholesterol and bile acid secretion in the bile is elevated. However, the bile acids secreted are not lithogenic. Acute toxicity studies show that the agent appears to be safe in rodents. Two observations of increased serum alkaline phosphatase levels and increased liver vacuolation suggest some alteration of hepatic cell morphology, which requires further investigation.

Toxicological Characterization of Phthalic Acid

“…TPA did not show any toxic indications in mice fed a 0.5% TPA diet (Hoshi et al , 1968) . TPA at 20 mg/kg/day lowered serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels in rats (Hall et al , 1993) . TPA is not metabolized in the body, does not accumulate in the tissues and mainly excreted in urine unchanged (Hoshi and Kuretani, 1967 ; Wolkowski-Tyl et al , 1982 ; Moffitt et al , 1975) .…”

Comparative Cytotoxicity and Sperm Motility Using a Computer-Aided Sperm Analysis System (CASA) for Isomers of Phthalic Acid, a Common Final Metabolite of Phthalates

“…Results from repeated-dose and acute toxicity studies via oral, dermal, and inhalation routes indicated that TPA produces low toxicity and is nonirritating to the skin and eyes (Hall et al, 1993;WolkowskiTyl et al, 1982). The primary adverse effect of high doses of TPA in rats is almost completely restricted to the urinary tract (Hoshi et al, 1967;Dai et al, 2005).…”

Military Smokes and Obscurants Fate and Effects: A Literature Review Relative to Threatened and Endangered Species

“…TA was found to damage liver cells of rats significantly more when acting synergistically with other toxicants (Yao et al 2002). In a similar study, TA was found to present no serious toxicity to mice (Hall et al 1993). Ryan et al (1990) found that TA did not result in significant toxic effects in the fetus or litters of rats exposed to aerosolized TA.…”