Plasma and Liver Lipids of Ethionine‐Treated Rāts

The changes in liver and plasma lipid concentrations caused by ethionine have been studied in the rat. A dose‐response curve was obtained for one time interval. For a constant dosage the time response curve was measured. The response of rats of different sex and nutritional state was also studied. Ethionine caused a rise in liver lipids, essentially confined to the glyceride fraction, a fall of plasma phospholipids, cholesterol esters, free cholesterol and glycerides and a rise of plasma free fatty acids (FFA). The liver lipids rose to a higher level in fasted female than in fasted male rats. Male rats also required a higher dose of ethionine for maximal response. Carbohydrate feeding to otherwise fasted female rats diminished, but did not abolish, the liver fat accumulation. The changes in plasma and liver lipid levels were maximal 24 hours after the ethionine administration. At 72 hours the liver lipids had fallen again almost to the zero time value. During the recovery phase the plasma glycerides rose above the zero time value and at 72 hours were 3 times higher.