Biomaterial Database

Effect of lovastatin on cholesterol absorption in cholesterol-fed rabbits. 1993

L B Nielsen, and S Stender, and K Kjeldsen

Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of the hydroxymethylglutaryl (HMG)-CoA reductase inhibitor lovastatin on some aspects of cholesterol metabolism in cholesterol-fed rabbits. The plasma cholesterol concentration was markedly lower in lovastatin-treated rabbits (6 mg/rabbit/day) compared to controls after 36 days of cholesterol-feeding (x +/- S.E.) (19 +/- 4 mmol/l, n = 9 versus 153 +/- 17 mmol/l, n = 7) (P < 0.00001). Intestinal absorption of cholesterol in such rabbits was reduced by 15% in lovastatin-treated rabbits (n = 21) compared to controls (n = 18) (P < 0.025). The results suggest that the hypocholesterolaemic effect of lovastatin in cholesterol-fed rabbits is associated with a decreased intestinal absorption of cholesterol.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007408	Intestinal Absorption	Uptake of substances through the lining of the INTESTINES.	Absorption, Intestinal
D008148	Lovastatin	A fungal metabolite isolated from cultures of Aspergillus terreus. The compound is a potent anticholesteremic agent. It inhibits 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HYDROXYMETHYLGLUTARYL COA REDUCTASES), which is the rate-limiting enzyme in cholesterol biosynthesis. It also stimulates the production of low-density lipoprotein receptors in the liver.	Lovastatin, 1 alpha-Isomer,Mevinolin,6-Methylcompactin,Lovastatin, (1 alpha(S*))-Isomer,MK-803,Mevacor,Monacolin K,1 alpha-Isomer Lovastatin,6 Methylcompactin,Lovastatin, 1 alpha Isomer,MK 803,MK803,alpha-Isomer Lovastatin, 1
D008297	Male		Males
D011817	Rabbits	A burrowing plant-eating mammal with hind limbs that are longer than its fore limbs. It belongs to the family Leporidae of the order Lagomorpha, and in contrast to hares, possesses 22 instead of 24 pairs of chromosomes.	Belgian Hare,New Zealand Rabbit,New Zealand Rabbits,New Zealand White Rabbit,Rabbit,Rabbit, Domestic,Chinchilla Rabbits,NZW Rabbits,New Zealand White Rabbits,Oryctolagus cuniculus,Chinchilla Rabbit,Domestic Rabbit,Domestic Rabbits,Hare, Belgian,NZW Rabbit,Rabbit, Chinchilla,Rabbit, NZW,Rabbit, New Zealand,Rabbits, Chinchilla,Rabbits, Domestic,Rabbits, NZW,Rabbits, New Zealand,Zealand Rabbit, New,Zealand Rabbits, New,cuniculus, Oryctolagus
D002784	Cholesterol	The principal sterol of all higher animals, distributed in body tissues, especially the brain and spinal cord, and in animal fats and oils.	Epicholesterol
D002791	Cholesterol, Dietary	Cholesterol present in food, especially in animal products.	Dietary Cholesterol
D006937	Hypercholesterolemia	A condition with abnormally high levels of CHOLESTEROL in the blood. It is defined as a cholesterol value exceeding the 95th percentile for the population.	Hypercholesteremia,Elevated Cholesterol,High Cholesterol Levels,Cholesterol Level, High,Cholesterol Levels, High,Cholesterol, Elevated,Cholesterols, Elevated,Elevated Cholesterols,High Cholesterol Level,Hypercholesteremias,Hypercholesterolemias,Level, High Cholesterol,Levels, High Cholesterol
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D012855	Sitosterols	A family of sterols commonly found in plants and plant oils. Alpha-, beta-, and gamma-isomers have been characterized.