Effect of polyestradiol on lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase in male and female rats.

The effects of two doses of polyestradiol phosphate of lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase activity and on liver and plasma cholesterol levels have been studied on female and male rats. Both treatments increased the hepatic content of esterified cholesterol, but the LCAT activity expressed as a percentage of cholesterol esterification was unaltered. The progress of esterification was not affected by the administration of the hormone. The LCAT activity in terms of the initial rate of esterification was decreased by the high dose of estradiol. This decrease was associated with a reduction of free plasma cholesterol level, as there is a significant positive correlation between these two parameters. The findings suggest that the increased esterified cholesterol in liver of estradiol-treated rats ins not mediated by an alteration in the LCAT activity.