1988 Volume 16 Issue 1 Pages 111-116
The effects of Dextran Sulfate (MDS®) on body weight, fatty liver formation, biochemical liver function tests, serum lipids and lipoproteins were examined in ventromedial hypothalamic (VMH) obesity in rats. Twelve weeks old female rats were divided into 4 groups: 1) control, 2) control with MDS treatment (0.4% of MDS containing diet), 3) VMH lesioned and 4) VMH lesioned with MDS treatment. After 12 weeks treatment of MDS, body weight, total liver lipid content, biochemical liver function tests and serum lipids (triglyceride, cholesterol) were determined. High performance liquid chromatography developed by Hara and Okazaki were also performed to analyse lipoproteins. There were no significant differences in body weights, total liver lipids and biochemical liver function tests between two control groups, and between two VMH lesioned groups, although both VMH lesioned rats became obese. In control rats, serum triglyceride did not change after treatment of MDS: VLDL-TG was decreased but LDL-TG and HDL-TG tended to increase. Serum cholesterol did not change. In VMH obese rats, both groups showed significant increase in serum triglyceride and cholesterol compared to control groups. Triglyceride was significantly decreased due to decrease in chyromicron and VLDL after treatment of MDS. There were no significant changes in total cholesterol but plasma VLDL-C were significantly decreased. These results suggest that Dextran Sulfate improved lipid abnormalities in VMH obese rats mainly by decreasing serum triglyceride in VLDL and chyromicron.
