Muscle Cholesterol Research Articles

Vitamin e, cholesterol, and lipids during atherogenesis in rabbits.

Rabbits were fed diets including cholesterol and 10% butterfat to determine whether polyunsaturated butter (9% 18:2) would be less atherogenic than normal saturated butter (3% 18:2) when fed for 12 weeks. The cholesterol diets alone, 0.5% or 2%, produced aortic plaque development, and plasma cholesterol increased 20 times, lipids increased 10 times, and vitamin E increased 5 times. The inclusion of both fat and cholesterol in the diet produced a synergistic effect, doubling these values to 40 times for cholesterol, 20 times for lipids, and 10 times for vitamin E. The higher circulating levels of cholesterol caused increased tissue levels of cholesterol. With 2% cholesterol and fat, liver and aorta cholesterol increased 10 times, heart 4 times, and muscle cholesterol 2 times. The lower 0.5% dietary cholesterol load was successful in limiting the amount of tissue cholesterol increase. Liver, aorta, heart, and muscle levels of cholesterol were only about half the concentration attained when 2% cholesterol was fed. It was concluded that there were no differences in plasma or tissue cholesterol, vitamin E, or atherosclerosis attributable to the polyunsaturated nature of the diet. The 10% butterfat diets alone, whether saturated or unsaturated, did not induce aortic plaques and did not increase blood or tissue cholesterol, lipids, or vitamin E. Our results suggest that the lipid mobilizing effect is mediated by cholesterol, probably by conversion to bile acids and a stimulation in intestinal absorption.

The Distribution of [14C]Cholesterol in Muscle and Skin of Rhesus Monkeys after Intravenous Injection

1. The specific radioactivity of [14C]cholesterol in plasma and in serial biopsies of muscle and skin was measured in Rhesus monkeys for 156 days after a single intravenous injection of [14C]cholesterol. 2. Analysis of the specific radioactitivy-time curves in terms of a two-compartment system indicated that all the cholesterol of muscle is exchangeable with the plasma cholesterol and that local synthesis does not contribute significantly to the cholesterol in muscle. 3. Analysis of the curve for specific radioactivity of skin cholesterol suggested the presence of a small pool of cholesterol with slow turnover. A contribution to skin cholesterol from local synthesis could not be excluded.

Effect of noradrenaline on triglyceride and glycogen concentrations in liver and muscle from man

Fifteen male subjects aged 21–29 were given noradrenaline infusions for 4 hr. The noradrenaline infusions started at a rate of 0.1 μg/kg/min and were increased step-wise at hourly intervals. Blood was sampled before and at hourly intervals during and after the noradrenaline infusions. Needle biopsies were taken from the femoral muscle in 10 subjects and from the liver in 8 subjects before and after the noradrenaline infusion. The concentrations of FFA in plasma and of β-hydroxybutyric acid in blood were markedly elevated during noradrenaline infusion. The concentrations of plasma TG and blood glucose were slightly elevated. In liver the TG concentration increased from 23.1 to 32.7 mmole/kg ( p < 0.001). It was estimated that the de novo synthesis of TG in the liver could have required about 30% of the plasma FFA entering the splanchnic region. In muscle the TG concentration was 3.6 mmole/kg lower after the noradrenaline infusion ( p < 0.01). No change was found in the concentrations of cholesterol and phospholipids in muscle or of cholesterol in liver. The glycogen concentration in muscle did not change during noradrenaline infusion. The decrease in liver glycogen concentration was of the same order of magnitude as previously observed in fasting man. The results suggest that noradrenaline was without major net effects on the metabolism of glycogen in liver and muscle.

The turnover of cholesterol in human atherosclerotic arteries.

The equilibration of cholesterol between plasma and atherosclerotic arteries was studied in 13 patients with obstructive atherosclerosis 2-96 days after the intravenous and/or oral administration of isotopic cholesterol. Arterial specimens were obtained in 12 patients during surgery for arterial reconstruction and in a 13th patient at autopsy. Equilibration was calculated as the specific radioactivity of cholesterol in the arterial tissue relative to that in the plasma (percent).In specimens obtained 2-4 days after pulse labeling, the specific activity of cholesterol in atheroma ranged from 0.3 to 4.5% of that in the plasma. By 17-27 days, the relative specific activity ranged from 6 to 20% in different arteries. In contrast, cholesterol of skeletal muscle had a relative specific activity of 96% by 22 days. By 61-96 days, atheroma cholesterol in the abdominal aorta, common iliac, and femoral arteries had equilibrated to 55, 30, and 26%, respectively. In the patient who died at 96 days, the cholesterol in the coronary arteries had a mean equilibration of 66%, similar to the values for the abdominal (66%) and thoracic (57%) aortas. The route of administration of the isotope did not influence the equilibration. Within the atheromatous plaque, the superficial layers equilibrated better than the deeper layers (75% vs. 22%). The free cholesterol in the atheroma equilibrated to a significantly higher extent than did esterified cholesterol (59% vs. 38%). There was a fourfold higher specific activity of cholesterol in the media than in the corresponding intima (916 vs. 230 dpm/mg). The estimated minimal influx rates of plasma cholesterol into the atheromatous intima ranged from 0.065 to 0.274 mg of cholesterol/g dry tissue per day for different arteries. The approximated turnover times of atheroma cholesterol ranged from 442 days for the abdominal aorta and the coronary arteries to 580 days for the common iliac and 821 and 934 days, respectively, for the femoral and the carotid arteries. These data indicate a definite, though slow, exchange of cholesterol between the plasma and severely atherosclerotic human arteries. Within the atheroma, there are multiple pools of cholesterol, each turning over differently and more slowly than the cholesterol of most other tissues, such as the skeletal muscle. The estimates of influx rate and turnover time of atheroma cholesterol suggest the possibility that this cholesterol is mobilizable, an indication of potential regression of atheromatous lesions in man.

Effects of glucagon on cholesterol and triglyceride deposition in tissues

In rats on a high lipid diet a study was done on the effect of glucagon injections on cholesterol and triglyceride levels in plasma, liver, kidney, heart muscle, and aorta. There was little effect on the concentration of triglycerides and cholesterol in the liver or in the diaphragm. However, the level of these lipids was significantly decreased in the kidney, aorta, and serum. Possible explanations for the findings are offered.

Studies on the compartmentation of lipid in adipose cells. II. Cholesterol accumulation and distribution in adipose tissue components

Adipose tissue was shown to contain 0.6-1.6 mg of cholesterol per gram wet weight. When expressed per unit of protein or organ mass, fat tissue contains more cholesterol than most other organs or membranes. The cholesterol content of fat tissue increased with the age and weight of the rat. Over 95% of adipose tissue sterols was cholesterol, and most of it was free. In young (150-165 g) rats two-thirds of fat tissue cholesterol was in collagenase-derived adipocytes while in older rats (450-480 g) 90% of fat tissue cholesterol was in adipocytes and the remainder was in stromal-vascular elements. Age-related differences in subcellular cholesterol distribution were also observed. The cholesterol/phospholipid molar ratios of purified plasma membrane fractions from small and large fat cells were identical (0.22-0.25), thus resembling muscle and liver membranes. 7.5 days after intravenous administration of [4-(14)C]cholesterol the specific activity of adipose cholesterol exceeded that of plasma cholesterol. At 28 days the specific activity of adipose and muscle cholesterol exceeded that of plasma three- to fivefold. The t((1/2)) disappearance of adipose tissue cholesterol was approximately 27 days, which is consistent with its function as a slowly turning over storage pool. Thus, fat tissue is a major cholesterol storage organ. This may well account for the marked expansion of the slowly exchangeable cholesterol pool (pool B) observed in obesity.

Triglycerides, cholesterol, and phospholipids in normal heart papillary muscle and in patients suffering from diabetes, cholelithiasis, hypertension, and coronary atheroma.

The triglyceride, cholesterol, and phospholipid contents of heart papillary muscle were measured in groups of obviously healthy and diseased females and males on whom either routine or forensic necropsies were performed. In healthy men the triglyceride content was 1.77 +/- 1.30 mg/g of wet weight and in women 1.25 +/- 0.48 mg/g wet weight. The corresponding values for cholesterol were 1.07 +/- 0.24 mg/g and 1.21 +/- 0.22 mg/g and those for phospholipids 17.70 +/- 5.15 mg/g and 19.65 +/- 10.21 mg/g. The differences between the sexes were not significant. The hypertensive or cardiac hypertrophy group had about the same or slightly lower means for lipid content. In the cholelithiasis group, women had significantly high triglyceride values (3.38 +/- 2.36 mg/g). The cholesterol values were not significantly elevated in either men or women. In the diabetic group, triglycerides were significantly increased both in men (mean 8.12 +/- 0.54 mg/g) and in women (6.85 +/- 5.66 mg/g). The cholesterol mean values were also high in both sexes, but the rise was not significant because of the great variation. In the coronary atheroma group, both male and female hospital cases had high triglyceride contents (mean 4.48 +/- 4.25 mg/g and 3.65 +/- 3.94 mg/g) whereas the forensic cases had only slightly elevated or normal values. Cholesterol assays paralleled the triglyceride ones, but phospholipids showed an inverse trend. The results showed that the lipid content of papillary muscle was increased in diseases where disturbances of lipid metabolism are evident, as in diabetes and cholelithiasis. In coronary atheroma only those cases with advanced obstruction of the arteries were associated with abnormal values of papillary lipids. No increase of the lipid content with age alone was found, nor was there any correlation with obesity.

Concentration of cholesterol and triglycerides in skeletal muscle of healthy men and myocardial infarction patients.

Abstract. The concentration of cholesterol and triglycerides (TG) has been determined in muscle taken by needle biopsy from 47 healthy men, 50 male myocardial infarction (MI) patients and 21 50‐year‐old men with hypertriglyceridemia (HL) as the only sign. In healthy men the cholesterol concentration in muscle increased with age (r = 0.48, p&lt;0.001). The concentration of TG in muscle was weakly correlated to the concentration of TG in plasma (r = 0.30, p&lt;0.05) but not to age. The muscle TG concentration in HL subjects was of the same order of magnitude as in healthy men. MI patients had a higher concentration of cholesterol in muscle than healthy subjects. Also the TG concentration in muscle was higher in coronary patients. In neither healthy men (r = 0.04, p&gt;0.05) nor MI patients (r = 0.13, p&gt;0.05) was the cholesterol concentration in muscle correlated to the cholesterol concentration in plasma.

The Influence of Feeding Ascorbic Acid and Sulfate on Egg Production and on Cholesterol Content of Certain Tissues of the Hen ,

Continuously feeding 1333 p.p.m. ascorbic acid to S.C.W.L. chicks resulted in delayed onset of egg production compared to controls. Ascorbate fed hens had increased (P < 0.05) percent liver lipids and decreased (P < 0.05) percent thigh muscle (semitendinosus) lipids compared to controls. Supplementing ascorbate fed hens with 1.0% sulfate decreased (P < 0.05) percent liver lipids relative to hens fed ascorbate. Sulfate ingestion by either ascorbate hens or controls reduced thigh cholesterol concentrations. While liver cholesterol levels were highest in ascorbate fed birds, their adipose tissue contained the least concentration. Control hens fed sulfate had the lowest liver cholesterol content and the highest adipose concentration of the different treatments. There is possibly a problem in liver lipid mobilization or tissue lipid uptake when ascorbic acid is ingested. Sulfate feeding to control and ascorbate hens resulted in reduced muscle cholesterol compared to controls. Eggs were collected from individual ascorbate fed hens before and after 1.0% sulfate was included in their diet. Sulfate ingestion increased the total egg cholesterol significantly (P < 0.05). Ascorbic acid may have sulfated the cholesterol, which enhanced its mobilization from tissues such as muscle and promoted its excretion into the egg. Plasma cholesterol levels were not influenced by treatments.

Effects of training and detraining on the distribution of cholesterol, triglyceride, and nitrogen in tissues of albino rats.

The effects of standardized exercise training and detraining on the content of cholesterol, triglyceride, and nitrogen in blood, myocardium, skeletal muscle, and epididymal fat of rats were studied. Forty-eight 90-day-old male rats were randomly assigned to four groups (two control groups, one trained group, and one trained and detrained group). Trained rats were subjected to 8 weeks of moderate running in motor-driven wheels; detraining was effected by discontinuing the running program for 8 weeks. Rats were provided a standard diet and water ad libitum. Trained rats displayed lower body weights and resting bradycardia. Training lowered ( P &lt;0.01) serum cholesterol, serum triglyceride, and adipose triglyceride levels but had no effect on these lipids in heart or skeletal muscle. These lowered lipid levels persisted after 8 weeks of detraining even though body weight was regained rapidly. Total nitrogen content was higher ( P &lt;0.01) in myocardial and triceps muscles of both trained and trained-detrained rats. Heart cholesterol and triglyceride levels were unchanged by detraining, but skeletal muscle cholesterol content was lowered. The results indicate that the changes in lipid content associated with training and detraining are tissue specific: reduction occurred in some tissues (serum and adipose tissue), although the lipid content of others (skeletal and heart muscle) was independent of training status, body weight, or circulating lipid levels.

The in vivo incorporation of labelled acetate into the cholesterol and fatty acids of tissues of dystrophic mice

The in vivo incorporation of acetate-2- 14C into cholesterol and fatty acid of tissues of dystrophic mice and their littermate controls was determined. The greatest active incorporation of the acetate is observed with liver followed by kidney, muscle, and brain. Comparison of the radioactivites in the whole tissue and the perchloric-acid-soluble fraction for dystrophic mice with those for the controls showed no appreciable differences. When the mice were not starved, both the specific activities and the relative activities (specific activity of dystrophic tissue divided by specific activity of control tissue) of cholesterol and fatty acid were significanctly reduced in liver, kidney, and muscle of the dystrophic animals. Brain and kidney of starved mice showed a reduced relative activity in cholesterol and fatty acid. No changes were observed in liver and muscle. Incorporation into cholesterol and fatty acid, on a whole muscle basis, is in general reduced for dystrophic muscle. Under the conditions studied ( in vivo incorporation for 1 hour into tissues of starved and nonstarved animals), the results obtained do not provide evidence of an enhanced incorporation of acetate-2- 14C into cholesterol and fatty acids in dystrophic muscle.

Metabolism of cholesterol in the tissues and blood of the chick embryo

Three artificially inseminated laying White Leghorn hens were given 35-50 micro c of cholesterol-4-(14)C intravenously. Their subsequently produced eggs contained cholesterol-(14)C-labeled yolks. Some of the fertilized eggs were analyzed for cholesterol content and radioactivity. Other eggs were incubated until hatching. The specific activity of the cholesterol contained in the serum and tissues of newly hatched chicks was determined and compared with that of yolk sac, which was taken as representative of egg yolk cholesterol before its metabolic transfer into the chick embryo. The specific activities of cholesterol in intestine, liver, serum, heart, and skeletal muscle and the whole chick were 95-98% of that in yolk sac, but that of brain cholesterol was only 11% of this value. These results indicate that whereas most of the cholesterol in the chick originated from the egg yolk, cholesterol biosynthesis was active in the brain and provided about 90% of its cholestero content. Newly hatched chicks were found to be hyperlipemic compared with older chicks and had fatty livers with a high cholesterol content. Desmosterol was found in 9- and 15-day old chick embryos but not in the newly hatched chicks, in which the only sterol was cholesterol.

Evidence for long-lived lipid components in developing mouse tissues

The existence of long-lived lipid components in developing mice has been demonstrated through the use of separate 14C and 3H acetate injections followed by the measurement of residual labels in the five months following injection. Brain and muscle, among ten tissues examined, contain relative isotope retention ratio (RIR) levels which indicate that some lipids of these tissues are long-lived. Polar as well as non-polar lipids separated by thin layer chromatography which showed such high RIR's included (in order of decreasing RIR values): sulfatides, cerebrosides, phosphatidyl ethanolamine, cardiolipin, cholesterol. Muscle cholesterol has a four-fold lower value than brain, yet was still four times higher in its ratio than those observed with homogenates of other tissues.

Probable sources of plasma cholesterol during phosphatide induced hypercholesterolemia

AbstractRats in isotopic steady state with respect to 4‐14C‐cholesterol were infused intravenously with massive amounts of lecithin and also injected once with Na acetate3H. During the following 8 hr their plasma gained an average of 11.3 mg of cholesterol; the specific activity of14C‐cholesterol fell in plasma while total14C‐cholesterol and3H activity doubled as compared to controls. The specific activity of14C‐cholesterol diminished in livers of rats receiving lecithin but not in controls. Specific activity of either isotope in cholesterol of intestine, lungs, muscle, skin and brains was the same in control and experimental groups. Total activity of14C and3H fell in cholesterol of liver. The results show that plasma accumulation of cholesterol during lecithin infusion derives from both cholesterol pre‐existing prior to infusion and from that newly synthesized after the start of infusion and that about one third of this cholesterol of mixed origin is supplied from the liver. The authors speculatively suggest skin as a likely source for most of the remainder, with a small additional contribution from brain.

Abnormalities of lipid metabolism in the vitamin E-deficient monkey

A soybean protein diet was used to induce vitamin E deficiency in rhesus monkeys. The deficient monkeys had reduced triglyceride concentrations in liver and skeletal muscle, but the cholesterol concentration in their skeletal muscle was increased. A constant amount of radioactively labeled (3)H-cholesterol-7alpha-(3)H was fed daily for 48-114 days to control and vitamin E-deficient monkeys to study the relationship between plasma, liver, and skeletal muscle cholesterol. Plasma cholesterol reached constant, maximum specific activity by the 42nd day both in control and in vitamin E-deficient monkeys. In control and previously deficient vitamin E-treated monkeys the specific activity of cholesterol in liver and skeletal muscle was approximately equal to that of plasma. In vitamin E-deficient monkeys the liver cholesterol specific activity was equal to that of plasma cholesterol, but the ratio of skeletal muscle cholesterol specific activity to plasma cholesterol specific activity was reduced. It is concluded from these studies that there is a specific defect(s) in cholesterol metabolism in the skeletal muscle of vitamin E-deficient monkeys.

Seasonal Variations in the Sterol, Fat and Unsaponifiable Components of Scallop Muscle

The total fats, unsaponifiable material, provitamins D, and sterols were determined on monthly samples of male and female sea scallop, Placopecten magellanicus (Gmelin). During the pre-spawning period (August), total fat, unsaponifiable, and sterol levels were low indicating an active transfer of these materials to the gonad tissue. During the retarded growth period (February, March), the fat content of the muscle decreased but there was a compensating increase in the unsaponifiable and sterol content of the total fat. The composition of the sterol fractions was determined by gas chromatography. The principal sterol components of the scallop muscle were found to be 22-dehydrocholesterol, cholesterol, brassicasterol, and 24-methylenecholesterol. Changes in the composition of the sterols were not as extreme as those reported in the literature for some other shellfish. However, variations in the cholesterol and 24-methylenecholesterol content of the scallop muscle suggested a relationship in the metabolism and biosynthesis of these sterols. There were no obvious differences in the composition of the muscle of male and female scallops.

Cholesterol and phospholipid levels in human liver and muscle in relation to the serum cholesterol level.

Acta Medica ScandinavicaVolume 169, Issue 6 p. 707-712 Cholesterol and Phospholipid Levels in Human Liver and Muscle in Relation to the Serum Cholesterol Level B. Hood, B. Hood First Medical and the Second Surgical Service, Sahlgren's Hospital, Gothenburg, SwedenSearch for more papers by this authorA. Gustafson, A. Gustafson First Medical and the Second Surgical Service, Sahlgren's Hospital, Gothenburg, SwedenSearch for more papers by this authorE. Thureborn, E. Thureborn First Medical and the Second Surgical Service, Sahlgren's Hospital, Gothenburg, SwedenSearch for more papers by this author B. Hood, B. Hood First Medical and the Second Surgical Service, Sahlgren's Hospital, Gothenburg, SwedenSearch for more papers by this authorA. Gustafson, A. Gustafson First Medical and the Second Surgical Service, Sahlgren's Hospital, Gothenburg, SwedenSearch for more papers by this authorE. Thureborn, E. Thureborn First Medical and the Second Surgical Service, Sahlgren's Hospital, Gothenburg, SwedenSearch for more papers by this author First published: January/December 1961 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0954-6820.1961.tb07881.xCitations: 5AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Citing Literature Volume169, Issue6January/December 1961Pages 707-712 RelatedInformation

Effect of Methyl Linoleate on Tissue Cholesterol of Normal and Vit. E-Deficient Rabbits.

Summary1. Distribution of cholesterol in 7 tissues of normal and dystrophic rabbits was determined. 2. Significant decreases in serum, liver, heart, kidney, and spleen cholesterol occurred in animals receiving dystrophic diet plus 10% methyl linoleate as compared to those receiving dystrophic diet alone. 3. Vit. E caused a lowering of cholesterol in serum, muscle, and heart tissue. 4. 10% methyl linoleate did not significantly lower tissue cholesterol of normal animals. 5. Dystrophic rabbits receiving methyl linoleate had similar tissue cholesterol to normal rabbits with the exception of muscle tissue.

Effect of antioxidants on muscle and plasma lipids of vitamin E-deficient guinea pigs.

SummaryIn guinea pigs with muscular dystrophy induced by feeding of Vit. E-deficient ration, there is a rise in cholesterol levels of plasma and skeletal muscle; these rises precede onset of dystrophy. Supplementation of Vit. E-deficient ration with antioxidants DPPD. BHT. DBH and Santoquin, although delaying onset of dystrophy symptoms, does not prevent the rise in plasma and muscle cholesterol and muscle total lipid in Vit. E-deficiency.

癩患者の組織及血液内脂質含有量の変動について

The total lipid, cholesterol and phosphatide contents of the upper leg muscle, cervical lymphnode and sciatic nerve, excised at aut10opsy of leprosy cases, were measured and the values compared to those of normal controls (accidental death). The total, lipid, cholesterol and phosphatide levels of the serum of leprosy patients were also measured. The choleste- rol content of the serum of leprosy is lower than in the normal healthy individual, but thereis no difference in the total lipid and phosphatide levels. The cholesterol/total lipid, phosphatide/total lipid and cholesterol/phosphatide ratios however, are lower than the normal. The former two, moreover, are not altered by long term administration of liver protecting agents and can be assumed to be due to leprosy itself whereas the latter shows a rise on recovery of normal liver function showing that it is a secondary phenomenon.The marked changes in lipid content of the tissues and organs in murine leprosy have already been reported. These findings suggest that a general metabolic disturbance takes place in the host on infection with the leprosy bacilli.