Abstract
The effect of alfibrate on the lipid metabolism in serum and liver was studied in the rats maintained on a cholesterol diet with simultaneous oral administration of alfibrate (150-900 mg/kg, daily) for two weeks. Clofibrate was used as a reference. The growth in alfibrate group was less inhibited than in clofibrate group and the increase in liver weight was 7% for alfibrate and 39% for clofibrate at 150 mg/kg dosage. Alfibrate inhibited the elevation of serum cholesterol by 60-67%, which is almost the same level of inhibition as for clofibrate. About 70% of inhibition in serum β-lipoprotein level, 36-58% decrease in the ratio of total cholesterol to phospholipids and a significant decrease in the ratio of free to esterified cholesterol were observed in alfibrate treated rats. About 15-23 % inhibition in serum triglycerides and almost the same level of inhibition in serum phospholipids was observed, the rate of inhibition by alfibrate being less than that by clofibrate. Alfibrate administration produced no significant change in liver cholesterol concentration in the hypercholesterolemic rats, but caused a 40-50% decrease on liver triglyceride and free fatty acid concentration, and 9 and 22% increase in phospholipid concentration at low and high dosages respectively. Any detectable change in total lipid concentration on liver, brain, kidneys, testes and the weight of epididymal fat tissues was not observed with alfibrate administration. Palmitic acid in cholesterol ester fraction of both liver and serum was decreased significantly, and in general, oleic acid tended to increase with alfibrate.
