Effects of ethyl-CPIB (clofibrate) on tissue lipoprotein lipase and plasma post-heparin lipolytic activity in rats

The role of LPL in reducing the serum triacylglycerol concentration was investigated in rats fed a high sucrose diet containing 0.25% (w/w) ethyl-CPIB. Compared with sucrose-fed controls, drug treatment resulted in a fall in adipose tissue LPL activity and a rise in enzyme activity in thigh and heart muscle. Serum post-heparin lipoprotein lipase activity after a high dose of heparin was lower in ethyl-CPIB-treated rats than controls, but after a low dose of heparin the values were similar. The amount of LPL activator was decreased by the drug. Thus, the low serum triacylglycerol concentration observed in the ethyl-CPIB-treated rats cannot be explained by changes in functional LPL activity. The plasma triacylglycerol-lowering effect of the drug could be explained by the observed decrease in triacylglyerol output by the liver.