The effect of long-term ingestion of glucocorticoids on liver and serum plasma in rats.

The effect of chronic hydrocortisone administration (0.5 mg/kg) on the liver and plasma lipid content was assessed in Wistar rats. It was found after that the liver cholesterol content was significantly increased 6 months of hydrocortisone treatment. At the same time, the distribution of liver phospholipid fractions was altered. The fatty acid composition of liver lipids showed a significant increase of 22:6 n-3. Decreased levels of cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol were found in the plasma of the hydrocortisone-treated rats.