Age-Related Changes of Lipid Metabolism and Thrombogenic Capacity in Rats

ABSTRACT

This study was performed to investigate the age-related changes of the lipid metabolism and thrombogenic capacity in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats at the ages of 4, 8, 12, 16, 20 and 24 months old. Total lipid, triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol in plasma and liver, HDL-cholesterol concentration, and eicosanoid contents in plasma were measured. Lipid peroxides were determined by the levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) in LDL fraction. Body weight was increased continuous until 16 months and decreased after 20 months. Epididymal fat pad (EFP) weight was increased continuously until 20 months and decreased at 24 months. Total lipid and TG concentrations in plasma were increased until 20 months and then rapidly decreased at 24 months but plasma cholesterol was increased continuously with aging. HDL-cholesterol level was increased continuously until 12 months, but decreased at 16 months and maintained there after. The TBARS levels in LDL fraction were the highest level at 24 months. Liver total lipid, TG, and total cholesterol concentrations were shown a tendency to increase with aging, and especially TG concentration was increased rapidly from 12 months to 16 months. Plasma thromboxane B2 (TXB2) and 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 (6-keto-PGF1) contents did not change with aging, but the ratio of TXB2/6-keto-PGF1 was increased with aging, especially from 8 to 12 months. These results showed that lipid levels in plasma and liver, TBARS levels in LDL fraction, and TXB2/6-keto- PGF1 ratio were increased with aging.