Effect of Dietary Lithocholic Acid on Liver Size of the Chick

Lithocholic acid has been shown to counteract the hypercholesterolemic effect of cholic acid in the mouse and rat (Howe et al., 1960; Portman and Bruno, 1961). Recently, Edwards (1961) has presented data demonstrating a lack of effect of dietary cholic acid on serum cholesterol levels of growing chicks. In this report (Edwards, 1961), dietary lithocholic acid was shown to have a hypercholesterolemic effect in the chick in contrast to its cholesterol depressing action in the rat and mouse (Howe et al., 1960; Portman and Bruno, 1961). The influence of dietary bile acids on cholesterol and lipid metabolism is presently under investigation in this laboratory. During the course of these studies, dietary lithocholic acid was found to influence liver size markedly. Groups of six chicks were fed the experimental diets for 4 weeks (4 through 8 weeks of age). Prior to receiving the experimental diets, the chicks were fed a commercial …