Effect of Vitamin D, Sucrose, Corn Oil and Endocrines on Tissue Cholesterol in Rats

A diet containing 65 per cent sucrose with added cholesterol resulted in hypercholesteremia and increased tissue cholesterol deposition in rats. Ten per cent corn oil with added cholesterol in Purina laboratory chow had no apparent effect on the serum total cholesterol but increased cholesterol deposition in tissues. Ovariectomy was without significant effect. Thyroidectomy or hypophysectomy aggravated the hypercholesteremia and the increased tissue cholesterol deposition induced by the sucrose diet. The effect of hypophysectomy was not due to the loss of thyrotrophic hormone alone. Addition of vitamin D aggravated hypercholesteremia and increased liver cholesterol deposition in normal, thyroidectomized or hypophysectomized rats fed the sucrose diet. In ovariectomized rats, the tissue cholesterol deposition was also augmented. When corn oil diet was fed, the supplementary vitamin D increased the serum total cholesterol level of the thyroidectomized rat.