Lipid transport in the hypothyroid rat as reflected by the serum concentrations of free fatty acids, lipoproteins, lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase and lipoprotein lipase activity in adipose tissue.

An experimental model was explored for the study of the effect of thyroid hormone on lipid transport and metabolism in the rat. The development of the hypothyroid state was accompanied by an early decrease in free fatty acids (FFA) followed by an increase in the level of cholesterol and a decrease in triglyceride concentration. Simultaneously, the adipose tissue lipoprotein lipase activity increased while the lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase was unchanged. The hypothyroid state was also accompanied by a decrease in the concentrations of tryglycerides and cholesterol in very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) while the 2 lipids increased in the low density lipoprotein (LDL) fraction. Administration of triiodothyronine markedly reduced the amount of cholesterol in both the LDL and high density lipoprotein (HDL) fractions. The animal model has been shown to have similarities with findings in human subjects.