[Effects of high-fat diet on blood lipids in rats]

Abstract

Objective: To provide a basis for establishing better animal models with hyperlipidemia by comparing the effects of two different high-fat diets on blood lipids of rats.

Methods: 30 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups (10 rats in each group) , including normal control group (NC), high fat formula diet group I (HFFD I) and high fat formula diet group II (HFFD II). NC group was fed a stock rodent diet, the HFFD I and HFFD II were fed with different high-fat formulae diets. Animals were weighted weekly and blood lipids were determined every two weeks. The experiment lasted for 6 weeks.

Results: By the end of the experiment, serum total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in HFFD I group were 1.4 and 2.2 times higher than those of the NC group (P < 0.01). Serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was 22.2% lower than that of NC group. Serum triglyceride (TG) was not significantly different between HFFD I and NC group (P > 0.05). Serum TC and LDL-C of HFFD II group were 11.5 and 5.7 times respectively higher than those of the NC group (P < 0.01). Serum TG and HDL-C were 39.7% and 34.6% respectively lower than those of the NC group.

Conclusion: Animal models with hypercholesteremia can be successfully established by the two methods, but the serum TG level of the rats can not be significantly elevated.