Effect of Reticulo-Endothelial Blocking Agents on Plasma and Liver Cholesterol Levels in the Rat

Abstract

Treatment of rats with Thorotrast and trypan red prevented the characteristic increase in liver cholesterol and total lipid content normally produced by admn. of high cholesterol diets. Similar treatment had no effect on liver cholesterol and lipids in rats fed normal diets. The injn. of the reticulo-endothelial blocking agents resulted in a decrease of plasma cholesterol levels in both the animals fed high cholesterol and normal diets, as compared with animals on similar diets but injected with saline. Possible interpretations of the role of the reticulo-endothelial system in cholesterol metabolism are presented.