Effect of Hyaluronidase on Experimental Hypercholesterolemia in Rabbits and Rats and Atheromatosis in Rabbits

Abstract

Hyper-cholesterolemia was induced in rabbits by a standard high-cholesterol, high-fat diet and endogenously by injection of meningococcus endotoxin; and in rats by subjecting them to the nephrotic syndrome. Injns. of hyaluronidase (Wydase) abolished the hypercholesterolemia but did not produce a significant hypocholesterolemia. The rabbits on the high cholesterol diet received 1000 turbidity reducing units (TRU) subcut. daily, 5 days a week, from the beginning of the expt. A high antihyaluronidase titer developed in the 5th to the 7th week. The antihyperchol-esterolemic effect was no longer obtainable after the development of the high antibody titer. The degree of atheromatosis and lipidosis was more severe in the rabbits receiving both hyaluronidase and cholesterol than in those receiving only cholesterol. Intact, and adrenalectomized rabbits submitted to the Shwartzman reaction and receiving intraven. injections of 5000 TRU of hyaluronidase preceding the first injection of toxin and during the course of the reaction did not develop hypercholesterolemia. The absence of the adrenals did not influence the development of hypercholesterolemia in the rabbits not receiving hyaluronidase. The rats on the nephrotic syndrome received subcut. injns. of 10,000 TRU of hyaluronidase one day preceding the injection of the anti-kidney serum and daily for the next 72 hrs. until sacrificed. Another group of rats received the same dosage schedule of bacterial hyaluronic acid intraperit. Both substances prevented the usual hypercholesterolemia.