Cold swimming stress: effects on serum lipids, lipoproteins and LCAT activity in male and female rats.

Effects of consistent cold swimming stress on lipid and lipoprotein metabolism parameters were studied using male and female rats over a period of 60 and 20 days respectively. At the end of treatment serum total cholesterol, high density lipoproteins (HDL-C) and lecithin:cholesterol acetyltransferase (LCAT) activity declined in both male and female rats. TC/HDL-C ratio declined in 20 days in females, while in males it did not change. Free fatty acids increased, while triglycerides remained unchanged in both sexes. %Lipoprotein distribution in male animals did not show any phenotype alteration except in the group of 40 days where %VLDL declined and %LDL-C increased. Body weights did not change, except in males in 60 days. Consistent cold swimming stress by lowering HDL-C and LCAT activity seems to influence lipoprotein metabolism.