Plasma free fatty acids and cholesterol in propranolol-treated rabbits.

The effects of propranolol on circulating free fatty acids (FFA) and cholesterol were studied in rabbits. The first injection (5 mg/kg) of the beta-blocking agent strongly stimulates FFA mobilization. The effect lasts less than 3 hours in fasting animals and more than 6 hours in fed animals. Propranolol also causes a drop in plasma cholesterol in fed rabbits. After prolonged treatment (5 mg/day/10 days), basal FFA levels were higher than in controls while plasma cholesterol levels of fed animals were lower than in normal rabbits.