Groups of adult Wistar male and female rats were fed isoenergetically for a three and a six weeks period either with synthetic lipogenic diet containing 5% and 20% fat mixtures (in which sunflower oil and lard were blended according to the ratio of 35:65) or with the same synthetic diet containing the mixture of sunflower oil and interesterified lard in a similar ratio. A control group received a normal diet for 6 weeks, whereas one of the experimental groups (fed with the 20% fat mixture in the lipogenic diet for 6 weeks) was given the normal diet for an additional two weeks period. After the feeding periods had been completed serum HDL-C levels and the total lipid, triglyceride, total cholesterol, free fatty acid levels were determined in serum and liver. The distribution of fatty acids in liver and heart muscle was also evaluated. In comparison to the control values it has been found: 1. Consumption of the lipogenic diet which is known to increase the serum total lipid and total cholesterol content induced in male rats a smaller augmentation in these indices when consuming the 20% fat mixture with a P/S ratio approaching the ideal 1 values, than in case of a 5% fat mixture consumption. In case of female rats, considerable increases of the serum values, could be observed at both fat consumption levels. The serum triglyceride and HDL-C contents decreased for all experimental groups. 2. The total lipid and triglyceride content of the liver increased in a high degree, the fatty liver syndrome was developed--more rapidly in males than in females. The total lipid, triglyceride and total cholesterol contents of the liver of male rats exceeded those of females by 15-30%. 3. The interesterification of the lard component of fat mixture resulted in lipid indices similar to those without interesterification, or in certain cases, they were found to be even slightly more favourable, i.e. the biological effect of the technological change proved to be adequate. 4. After a two weeks regeneration period the serum values of the male rats approached closer the normal control values than those of the females which were decreasing from a very high level but the degree of decrease was greater for them than for the male rats. The lipid content of the liver showed similar values.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)