[Activity of key enzymes of cholesterol biotransformation and lipid content in the liver, aorta, adrenals and blood of rats exposed to chloroquine].

Intraperitoneal administration of chloroquine (50 mg/kg, 7 days) to rats was followed by the increase of cholesterol, its esters, triglycerides and phospholipids levels in tissues, the decrease of lysosomal cholesterol esterase and acyl-koA-cholesterol acyl transferase activity in the liver and the enhancement of the non-sedimentable activity of acid phosphatase and beta-galactosidase. At concentration range of 3.5 to 140 mM the drug inhibited the activity of cholesterol esterase in the rat liver lysosome fraction.