A Simple Method for Screening Antihyperlipidemic Agents

Screening of antihyperlipidemic agents generally takes 1-2 month using hyperlipidemia-animal model induced by high cholesterol diet. The aim of this research was to develop a method for screening of antihyperlipidemic agents in relatively short time. This method takes only 8 days, yet it gives similar result compared to conventional method. Animals were orally induced with propylthiouracil of 10 mg kg(-1) b.wt. dosage and 0.01% PTU in drinking water for 7 days. On day 8 test drugs were given to animals orally. One hour after test drugs administration, animals were given a solution of high dosage cholesterol in vegetable oil of 400 mg kg(-1) b.wt. Serum total cholesterol level was measured in every 1 h after administration of cholesterol for 6 h. After 6 h, a level of total cholesterol in the liver and feces were measured. Result showed that administration of cholesterol in hypothyroid animals significantly raised the serum total cholesterol level in 6 h compared to normal animals induced by cholesterol without previous PTU administration. Administration of low dose of propylthiouracil and 0.01% PTU in drinking water for 7 days before the cholesterol played importance role in increasing the serum total cholesterol level in blood. This method is simpler and requires less time to get hyperlipidemia animal model. Serial measurement of serum total cholesterol level in every hour for 6 h gave a cholesterol profile that can explain different drug mechanisms in cholesterol homeostasis.