Abstract
Rets were fed on a moderate high cholesterol diet which didn't result in hypercholesterolemia. Effect of γ-oryzanol on lipid metabolism involving serum lipoproteins, liver cholesterol content, cholesterol esterase (CEase) and acyl-CoA cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) activities in the arterial wall, was evaluated. Rats were divided into 3 groups. Group I fed on normal diet (ND), group II fed on high cholesterol diet (HCD: 0.7% cholesterol plus 0.5% cholisc acid).
Group III fed on HCD plus γ-oryzanol (250mg/kg weight). Each rat was fed 20g a day for 16 weeks. There were no significant differnce in body weight, liver weight and serum total cholesterol level among 3 groups. VLDL-cholesterol was high and HDL-cholesterol was low in group II and group III compared to group I. LDL-cholesterol remained unchanaged. The liver cholesterol contensts in group I, II or III were 4, 14 or 10mg/g liver wet weight, respectively. There were no significant difference in CEase activities among 3 groups. But activities were slightly low in group II compared to group I and slightly high in group III comparted to group II. ACAT activity was the lowest in group III. When serum cholesterol level reamins within normal limits, moderate HCD resulted in changes in lipoprotein-cholesterol content and elevation of liver cholesterol content. And these changes are considered to be atherogenic. γ-oryzanol improved these changes, so it may have protective effect against atherogenic changes.
