POSTPRANDIAL LIPEMIA IS EXACERBATED IN FAT-CHOLESTEROL-FED RABBITS - RELATIONSHIP TO ATHEROMA DEPOSITION

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the links between chronic fat-cholesterol intake, postprandial lipaemia and atherogenesis in Ne w Zealand White rabbits. Adult rabbits were fed on either a low-fat co ntrol diet (LF) or a high-fat, high-cholesterol diet (HF). Rabbits rec eived a test meal containing [H-3]cholesterol and [C-14]triolein on da ys 0 and 63 for the LF group and days 14, 28, 42, 63 and 84 for the HP group. Blood was collected 24 h post-absorptively and 10, 24, 34 and 48 h after test-meal intake. Post-absorptive as web as postprandial li poproteins and lipaemia were not modified in the LF rabbits, who did n ot show any atheroma deposition on day 119. In HF rabbits, postprandia l plasma triacylglycerols peaked 24-34 h after meal intake. The 0-48 h areas under the curves of triacylglycerol and triacylglycerol-rich li poproteins (TRL) steadily increased with time of chronic lipid feeding with values significantly higher than those in the LF rabbits. The po stprandial plasma and TRL concentrations of dietary radiolabelled lipi ds were significantly higher in HF than LF rabbits. Post-heparin lipop rotein Lipase (EC 3.1.1.34) and hepatic lipase (EC 3.1.1.3) activities were twofold higher in HF rabbits than in LF rabbits at day 105. In H F rabbits, a marked atheroma plaque deposition in the aorta was observ ed (30.9 (SE 3.9)% of total surface). The extent of atheroma depositio n was positively correlated to the postprandial responses of plasma to tal triacylglycerols and dietary-derived lipids as well as total chole sterol and dietary-derived cholesterol in DF rabbits. In conclusion, c hronic ingestion of a HF diet led to marked increases in postprandial lipaemia and TRL particles, and atheroma deposition.