EFFECTS OF AMPHENONE B AND OF DIET ON CHOLESTEROL LEVELS IN THE RAT

Abstract

Amphenone B was added in concentrations of 0.1 to 0.5% to a number of synthetic diets and to a fox chow diet. These were then fed to young male rats to determine the effects on adrenal weight and on the cholesterol content of the adrenals, liver, and plasma. The rats fed amphenone mixed with synthetic diets showed a greater increase in adrenal size and adrenal cholesterol than those fed amphenone mixed with the chow diet. The liver and plasma cholesterol values of rats fed amphenone on synthetic diets were also increased appreciably while those of rats fed amphenone in the chow diet were near normal. Synthetic diets containing erucic acid and amphenone appeared to have the greatest effect on adrenal size and cholesterol content but other synthetic diets in some cases caused a greater increase in liver and plasma cholesterol concentrations. An attempt to examine the effect of injected amphenone on cholesterol levels in rats fed different diets was limited by the fact that high doses of amphenone cause prolonged anesthesia.