[Lipid metabolism of neonatally thymectomized rats of different sexes].

Content of cholesterol, its esters, total beta-lipoproteins and free fatty acids was increased in blood serum of rats, subjected to thymectomia after birth. The distinct sex variations were found in alterations of these patterns. Content of cholesterol was increased only in thymectomized males at the age of 3 months; content of beta-lipoproteins in males was elevated earlier and to higher level as compared wtih females. Alteration in content of blood serum lipids did not depend on manifestations of exhaustion syndrome (typical consequence of neonatal thymectomia) but it was related to ablation of thymus; this suggests that thymus participates in regulation of lipid metabolism. Sex differences in alterations of lipid metabolism patterns enabled to assume the existence of endocrine interrelations between thymus and sex glands.