The Effect of Quantitative Underfeeding and of Vitamin A Deficiency on the Liver Lipids of Rats Fed Diets with Added Cholesterol

Abstract

Data are reported showing the effect of cholesterol feeding on the liver lipids of rats which were, a) vitamin A deficient, b) limited as to food intake but given adequate vitamin supplements, c) normal controls. The size of the livers and their fatty acid content was less for the undernourished and A deficient animals both with and without cholesterol than for their respective controls. Free cholesterol variations in liver were slight from group to group, but on both basal diets the ‘undernourished’ animals seemed to show a tendency to have a slightly higher concentration of free cholesterol than either of the other groups. On diets low in cholesterol, lecithin and fat, the ester cholesterol concentration was low in the livers of all groups, and the variations of doubtful significance. When the rats were given cholesterol, the following changes were observed: