Comparative evaluation of the effects of tetracycline and doxycycline on blood and liver lipids on male and female mice.

The effects of tetracycline and doxycycline (10-100 mg/g i.v.) on the triglyceride and cholesterol contents of liver and blood were studied comparatively in male and female mice. Only tetracycline increased the triglyceride content of the liver. The cholesterol content of the liver was raised by both tetracycline and doxycycline. Tetracycline and doxycycline increased the concentration of unesterified cholesterol and decreased esterified and total cholesterol in the serum. Most effects were more consistent or more pronounced in females than in males.