[Aminoglutethimide-induced dyslipidemia. Experimental study].

Aminoglutethimide (AG) is a drug that inhibits steroid synthesis; it is used in advanced breast cancer. After the observation of abnormalities in lipid metabolism in patients, we realized an experimental study to try to look for a pathogenetic hypothesis. Three groups of rats received respectively AG, Hydrocortisone (HC) or both (AG + HC) and were compared to controls. Animals treated with AG (with or without HC) had a greater liver content of triglycerides, cholesterol and phospholipids than controls. Cholesterol plasma level was higher in animals treated with AG + HC. The bile flow was higher in rats receiving AG and AG + HC whereas biliary salt concentrations were lower. These variations could be the consequence of both an enzymatic induction and an inhibition of some cytochrome P450 dependent hydroxylases.