Total Lipid and Cholesterol Levels in Plasma and Liver of Rats Fed Diets Supplemented with Sulfaguanidine or Succinylsulfathiazole

Abstract

The influence of dietary supplements of succinylsulfathiazole and sulfaguanidine on plasma and liver total lipid and cholesterol levels was studied in rats. These 2 sulfonamides were evaluated in diets devoid of cholesterol or supplemented with either cholesterol alone or cholesterol plus cholic acid. The 2 drugs had little influence on liver and plasma lipids and cholesterol in rats fed cholesterol-free diets. In animals fed cholesterol-supplemented diets succinylsulfathiazole had a cholesterol-elevating effect, whereas sulfaguanidine depressed liver cholesterol and lipid levels. When these drugs were tested in diets supplemented with both cholesterol and cholic acid the cholestrol- and lipid-enhancing effects of succinylsulfathiazole were no longer apparent, whereas the depressing action of sulfaguanidine was still evident. The cholesterolemic effect of these 2 sulfonamides could not be related to their goitrogenicity. Possible mechanisms available to explain the results observed were considered and a hypothesis in accord with the reported observations was proposed.