Influence Of ACTH On Serum Lipid Levels And Renal Function In Hyperlipidemic Rabbit Model

Objectives: To investigate the effects of synthetic adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH1-24 and ACTH4-10) on serum lipid levels, renal function and the adrenal gland in hyperlipidemic rabbit model, in order to discuss the lipid-lowering mechanism and effect of renal function of ACTH1-24. And to investigate whether ACTH4-10 has the same effect on lipid levels and adrenal.Methods: 45 healthy male NZW rabbits were fed with a high-fat diet (containing 95.5% ordinary feeder, 2.5% lard, 1.25% cholesterol and 0.75% yolk powder) for 8 weeks, and were divided into 3 groups randomly, i.e. ACTH1-24 group (n=15), ACTH4-10 group (n=15) and control group (n=15). ACTH1-24 group received a subcutaneous injection of ACTHl-24 at a dose of 100μg/(kg·d) (dissolved in 1ml saline solution) for one week. ACTH4-10 group received a subcutaneous injection of ACTH4-10 at a dose of 300μg/(kg·d) (about 5 times molar concentration compared with ACTH1-24 group, dissolved in 1ml saline solution) for one week. Control group received the same volume of saline solution daily for one week. Then we drew blood to detect and compare the change of rabbits'serum lipid levels and renal function at pre-experiment, the third day and the seventh day of the experiment, respectively. The left adrenal gland was resected for measurement of weight, volume and the right adrenal gland was resected for pathology at the seventh day after hemospasia.Results: ACTH1-24 group: compared with pre-experiment, one week after ACTH1-24 injection, serum TC, HDL and LDL levels were reduced about 9.0%, 43.7% and 6.3% respectively, while TG level increased about 7.6 times and the differences of HDL and TG are significant (P<0.01 and P<0.001, respectively). Serum Cr level decreased 16.6% ( P<0.01). Blood urea nitrogen level increase about 13.5%, but no significant difference was found. The weight and volume of adrenal gland increased significantly. ACTH4-10 group: a week after ACTH4-10 injection, there were no difference about serum lipid and renal function in hyperlipidemic rabbits, as well as the weight and volume of adrenal gland.Conclusions: ACTH1-24 has the effect of lipid-lowering and improving renal function in hyperlipemia model, while ACTH4-10 has no same effect; Adrenal hyperplasia was seen in ACTH1-24 group but missed in ACTH4-10 group.