Cholesterol Esterification and Lipids in Plasma and Liver from Newborn and Young Guinea Pigs Raised on Milk and Non-Milk Diet

Abstract

Plasma lecithin:cholesterol acyltransfer (LCAT), liver acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransfer (ACAT) and plasma and liver lipids were examined in newborn and young guinea pigs fed ordinary or a non-milk diet. LCAT in newborns was about 70 % of the adult value, increased the first 3 days to values about three times the adult value, and decreased during the next 3 weeks to about adult value. Plasma lipids varied in a similar way. Liver ACAT in newborns was considerably higher than in adults. In young animals on non-milk diet the LCAT and ACAT were lower than in normally fed animals. LCAT was positively correlated to free cholesterol in plasma.