Effect of intralipid infusion on serum high- and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase, and lipoprotein lipase in tumor-bearing rats.

We compared the effects of 0.45% normal saline (NS), 5% Intralipid (IL), and 16.7% glucose (Glu) infusions on total serum triglycerides and cholesterol, serum high-(HDL-c) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), and activity of serum lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT), and serum lipoprotein lipase (LPL) in rats implanted with a fibrosarcoma. In tumor-bearing rats given NS, a two-fold increase in total serum cholesterol, a four-fold increase in LDL-c, and a five-fold decrease in the HDL-c/LDL-c ratio were observed compared to tumor-free rats. In tumor-bearing rats administered IL, a two-fold increase in total serum triglyceride and cholesterol, a three-fold increase in HDL-c and HDL-c/LDL-c ratio, and a two-fold increase in LPL activity were observed compared to tumor-bearing rats administered NS. In tumor-bearing rats administered Glu, a two-fold decrease in total serum cholesterol, a two-fold decrease in HDL-c, and a three-fold decrease in LDL-c were observed compared to tumor-bearing rats administered NS. Tumor weights and LCAT activity did not differ significantly between treatment groups. Previous results have demonstrated that lipophilic compounds that interact with plasma lipoproteins have altered pharmacological effects when administered with IL. Therefore, this study suggests that IL infusions alter the HDL-c/LDL-c ratio and could affect the pharmacological behavior of anticancer compounds that predominantly distribute into the LDL fraction upon entrance into the bloodstream.