Plasma lipids in genetically hypertensive rats of the Lyon strain.

Of the four standardized strains of genetically hypertensive rats, only the Lyon hypertensive rats spontaneously exhibit a higher body weight than their normotensive controls. In order to determine if this increased body weight is associated with alterations in the lipid metabolism, plasma triglycerides (TG), phospholipids (PL), total cholesterol (TPC), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (CHDL) were followed in Lyon hypertensive (LH), normotensive (LN), and hypotensive (LL) male rats between 5 and 32 weeks of age. TG were stable with age in LL and LN but increased in LH rats. PL decreased in LL, remained stable in LN, but increased with age in LH rats. TPC and CHDL were stable in LL and LN and increased with age in LH rats. Plasma lipids were not related to the blood pressure level, but were positively related to the body weight in the hypertensive strain. Thus, starting at the age of 5 weeks, LH rats exhibit spontaneously a significant increase in blood pressure, body weight, and plasma lipid concentrations.