Influence of the season on the circadian rhythm of serum lipids in male Wistar rats.

Young male Wistar rats were adapted to a 12:12 h light: dark regimen (7 a.m. to 7 p.m., 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.), with free access to food and water. In January, April, July and October they were killed at 3-hour intervals and non-esterified fatty acids, tri-glycerides, total cholesterol and phospholipids were determined in their serum. Serum cholesterol was the least influenced by the season; a rhythm was present in all the seasons, the acrophases came in approximately the same part of the day and the mean adjusted oscillation (mesor) values (in the cosinor test) did not differ the whole year round. Serum triglycerides displayed a rhythm except in the summer; their autumn values were lower and their curves attained the maximum in different parts of the photophase. Non-esterified fatty acids and phospholipids were found to be significantly influenced by the season; the shapes of their curves and their maxima varied during the year. For evaluation of the influence of the seasons on the circadian oscillations of lipid metabolism in the rat, information on the ratio of the formation and utilization/degradation of tissue lipids in the various parts of the year is still lacking.