Dietary Cholesterol and Adrenal Regulation of Plasma Lipids

Abstract

Adrenalectomized dogs maintained on desoxycorticosterone acetate manifest a progressive depletion of plasma phospholipid and cholesterol. Within a 4-week period a mean decrease of 60% is observed. The daily addition of cholesterol to the Purina chow diet prevented the hypolipemic response and resulted in significant elevation in the concentration of plasma cholesterol. The feeding of an identical amount of cholesterol to dogs with intact adrenals was not associated with any alteration in plasma lipid levels. The feeding of identical amounts of highly saturated fats or soya lecithin to adrenalectomized dogs resulted in the characteristic decline of plasma phospholipid and cholesterol. A significant contribution of the adrenal gland to the regulation of plasma lipid metabolism in normal and cholesterol-fed dogs is indicated.