Effect of cholesterol feeding on the distribution of plasma lipoproteins and on the metabolism of apolipoprotein E in the rabbit

Changes in lipoprotein distribution and in apolipoprotein E metabolism were studied in rabbits fed a diet containing 1% cholesterol. Lipoprotein distribution was monitored by rate zonal ultracentrifugation, gel filtration chromatography, and electrophoretic techniques. Normolipidemic rabbit plasma contained VLDL, IDL, LDL, and HDL. Within 1 week on the 1% cholesterol diet, the d less than 1.006 g/ml material was greatly elevated, and the lipoproteins of higher density (LDL and HDL) decreased below levels of detection. Cholesteremic d less than 1.006 g/ml material was cholesteryl ester-rich, triglyceride-poor, and contained particles of Sf 20 to greater than 400. Upon diet normalization, the LDL and HDL reappeared within 2-4 weeks accompanied by a decrease in the d less than 1.006 g/ml material. The metabolism of apoE was studied by injecting purified and 125I-labeled apoE into rabbits and following the clearance of the tracer. ApoE in the normolipemic rabbit demonstrated a fractional catabolic rate (FCR) of 0.132 hr-1 and a half-life (t1/2) of 10.3 hr. ApoE in the hypercholesterolemic rabbit demonstrated an FCR of 0.055 hr-1 and a t1/2 of 49.5 hr. ApoE concentrations in the plasma as estimated by electroimmunoassay were 19.5 mg/dl in the control rabbit and 199 mg/dl in the hypercholesterolemic rabbit. From these data, absolute synthetic rates of 20.3 mg/kg per day and 86.1 mg/kg per day were calculated for the control and the hypercholesterolemic rabbit, respectively. We conclude that the cholesterol-supplemented diet caused pronounced elevation of apoE in the plasma due to overproduction of the protein.