TY - JOUR
T1 - Effect of melatonin on the maintenance of cholesterol homeostasis in the rat
AU - Chan, T. Y.
AU - Tang, P. L.
N1 - Funding Information:
was supported by a postgraduate studentship from the HK Polytechnic. Address correspondence to Prof. P. L. Tang, Dept. of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong [ Fax 852-2364-9932 I.
PY - 1995/1
Y1 - 1995/1
N2 - The effect of melatonin on cholesterol metabolism in the rat was investigated in the dietary and hypothyroid models of hypercholesterolemia. In normal and dietary hypercholesterolemia (induced by 1% cholesterol, 0.5% bile acid), melatonin treatment (12.5mg/kg i.p.) reduced total serum cholesterol concentration and total low density lipoprotein (VLDL + LDL) cholesterol. The protective action of melatonin was manifested only following the induction of cholesterolemia in such animals. Enhanced catabolism of cholesterol to bile acids is likely involved as shown by an increase in fecal bile acid excretion following melatonin treatment. Incorporation of l-i4C acetate into sterols was unaffected by melatonin treatment which suggests its lack of influence on sterol biosynthesis. In secondary hypercholesterolemia (hypothyroidism induced by 2-thiouracil), melatonin exerted a beneficial effect by increasing the HDL/total LDL cholesterol ratio. These findings suggest that the hypocholesterolemic effect of melatonin may work through the augmentation of endogenous cholesterol clearance meChanisms. This is accompanied by the lowering of the cholesterol fraction associated with low density lipoproteins.
AB - The effect of melatonin on cholesterol metabolism in the rat was investigated in the dietary and hypothyroid models of hypercholesterolemia. In normal and dietary hypercholesterolemia (induced by 1% cholesterol, 0.5% bile acid), melatonin treatment (12.5mg/kg i.p.) reduced total serum cholesterol concentration and total low density lipoprotein (VLDL + LDL) cholesterol. The protective action of melatonin was manifested only following the induction of cholesterolemia in such animals. Enhanced catabolism of cholesterol to bile acids is likely involved as shown by an increase in fecal bile acid excretion following melatonin treatment. Incorporation of l-i4C acetate into sterols was unaffected by melatonin treatment which suggests its lack of influence on sterol biosynthesis. In secondary hypercholesterolemia (hypothyroidism induced by 2-thiouracil), melatonin exerted a beneficial effect by increasing the HDL/total LDL cholesterol ratio. These findings suggest that the hypocholesterolemic effect of melatonin may work through the augmentation of endogenous cholesterol clearance meChanisms. This is accompanied by the lowering of the cholesterol fraction associated with low density lipoproteins.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0029144002&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/07435809509030483
DO - 10.1080/07435809509030483
M3 - Article
C2 - 7588436
AN - SCOPUS:0029144002
SN - 0743-5800
VL - 21
SP - 681
EP - 696
JO - Endocrine Research
JF - Endocrine Research
IS - 3
ER -