The effects of clofibrate and 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole on liver catalase and lipid metabolism in mice.

Clofibrate-treated mice showed a significant decrease in plasma triacylglycerols and a parallel elevation of liver catalase. Repeated administration of aminotriazole to clofibrate-treated mice effectively abolished the elevated catalase activity, but had no significant effect on the reduced plasma triacylglycerol levels. In mice, the hypolipidemic effect of clofibrate may be dissociated from its capacity to elevate liver catalase. Repeated administration of aminotriazole to control mice resulted in significantly lowered carcass fat and plasma triacylglycerol levels even though the liver catalase activity was greatly depressed. The livers of clofibrate-treated mice showed an increase in phospholipid content. Livers of aminotriazole-treated mice showed a decrease in total lipid content, with a profound decrease in free fatty acids and triacylglycerols and a slight increase in phospholipids. The composition of the individual free fatty acids of the liver triacylglycerols showed a shift towards the shorter fatty acids and the nutritionally essential alpha-linolenic acid in clofibrate-treated mice.