Abstract
Levels of serum lipids such as total cholesterol (TCHO), free cholesterol (F-CHO), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides (TG), and phospholipids (PL) were examined in both sexes of Meishan pigs. In young adult pigs (4- to 5-monthold), levels of all above lipids mentioned were significantly higher in females than in males, while no such sex difference was observed until the age of 3 months. In young adult male pigs castrated at the age of 1 month, levels of these lipids were almost the same as levels in corresponding female pigs. In addition, no sex differences in the levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol and non-esterified free fatty acids were observed. The present findings indicated that androgen might act as a down-regulator for the levels of serum lipids, such as T-CHO, F-CHO, LDLC, TG and PL, in pigs.
