Ja. Porter et al., EFFECT OF PRAVASTATIN ON PLASMA-LIPID CONCENTRATIONS IN POLOXAMER 407-INDUCED HYPERLIPIDEMIC RATS, Pharmacotherapy, 15(1), 1995, pp. 92-98
A new animal model of hyperlipidemia is being developed using the noni
onic surfactant poloxamer 407 (P-407). We investigated the impact of p
ravastatin on P-407-induced hyperlipidemia. Twenty rats received P-407
300 mg intraperitoneally to induce hyperlipidemia, and 20 control rat
s received saline injection. Pravastatin was administered orally to an
equal number of rats in both groups using three different regimens. A
fourth group did not receive pravastatin. At 24 hours after injection
, total cholesterol levels in two of the pravastatin groups were 28% a
nd 34% lower than those in animals that did not receive pravastatin (p
less than or equal to 0.01). At 48 hours, triglyceride levels were si
gnificantly lower in all pravastatin groups (21-44%) versus animals no
t receiving pravastatin. Pravastatin diminished the effects of P-407 o
n lipoproteins. This new animal model may be useful in screening for i
nvestigational antihyperlipidemic agents.