EFFECT OF TRIPARANOL ON ATHEROSCLEROSIS AND ON STEROL COMPOSITION AND CONCENTRATION IN SERUM AND AORTA OF THE CHICKEN

The administration of triparanol resulted in an increase in serum total sterols and desmosterol in both cockerels and egg-laying pullets. In cockerels treated for 20 weeks with 25.0 mg of triparanol/kg body weight, the total serum sterol level was 106 mg/100 ml compared to 80 mg/100 ml for the controls. Desmosterol represented 76% of these sterols in the triparanol-treated birds while none was detectable in the serum of the controls. In the aortas of these cockerels, desmosterol was not detectable in the controls but represented 67% of total sterols in those receiving triparanol. In egg-laying pullets, a similar but more pronounced effect was observed. Administration of 40.0 mg of triparanol/kg body weight for 10 weeks resulted in an increase of total serum sterols from 65 mg/100 ml to 522 mg/100 ml, of which 90% was desmosterol. Pullets treated for 2 weeks with 50–100 mg of triparanol/kg body weight showed about a fourfold increase in serum sterols, up to 83% of which was desmosterol. In all cases, the administration of triparanol caused a cessation of egg production. It appears that triparanol enhances the degree and incidence of atherosclerosis of the aorta of the chicken.