Changes in serum and hepatic cholesterol in lead-induced liver hyperplasia.

Lead nitrate when injected intravenously as a single dose to male Wistar rats causes a strong hepatic proliferative response followed by reabsorption of excess tissue within 10-14 days. The rate of cell proliferation in this hyperplastic model was positively correlated with hepatic de novo synthesis of cholesterol, stimulation of the hexose monophosphate shunt pathway of glucose metabolism and with alterations in serum lipoproteins.