Comparison of hypocholesterolemic activities of the bile acid sequestrants cholestyramine and colestipol hydrochloride in cholesterol fed SEA quail.

The pharmacopolymer bile acid sequestrants cholestyramine and colestipol hydrochloride were mixed with a diet supplemented with 0.5% cholesterol at levels of 0.25%, 0.5%, and 1.0% for cholestyramine and 0.5% and 1.0% for colestipol and fed to young, male, SEA (Susceptible to Experimental Atherosclerosis) Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) for a period of seven days. After treatment blood was obtained by venipuncture from non-fasted animals and analyzed for serum total cholesterol concentration. Cholestyramine significantly reduced total cholesterol concentrations at all doses in a dose dependent manner. Colestipol significantly reduced total cholesterol only at the 1.0% dose. Based on these observations, cholestyramine is significantly more potent for reducing serum cholesterol in hypercholesterolemic male SEA quail than is colestipol hydrochloride.