Effect of long-term clofibric acid treatment on serum and tissue lipid and cholesterol levels in obese Zucker rats

The long-term effects of clofibric acid (200 mg/kg body weight) injected subcutaneously from 6-36 weeks of age were assessed in obese, hyperlipemic Zucker rats. At 18 and 36 weeks of age, treated rats had significantly lower fasted serum Cholesterol levels but triacylglycerol levels were not affected. Rats were killed at 36 weeks of age at which time there were no differences in body and kidney weights between control and clofibric acid-treated rats. Liver, spleen and heart weights were lowered by clofibric acid treatment. In liver there was an elevation of lipid/g due to treatment but there were no effects on Cholesterol/g or on either total liver lipid or Cholesterol levels. In the epididymal fat pad of clofibric acid-treated rats, there was a 21% elevation of Cholesterol level on a per pad basis. In the Other organs, there were no effects of treatment on lipid or Cholesterol levels except for lowered total Cholesterol in kidney. Several liver lipogenic Enzymes were lowered by treatment but malic Enzyme was two times higher.