EFFECTS OF SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM ACTH ON PLASMA LIPID, LIPOPROTEIN AND GLUCOSE LEVELS IN MICE

This study was designed to evaluate the changes of lipoproteins, triglycerides and plasma glucose levels of mice under treatment of ACTH. In these experiments sixty mice between 6-8 weeks of age weighing about 30 g were used. They were divided into three groups [control, Group I (short-term) and Group II (long-term)], each containing 20 animals. Control mice were treated with 0.9%NaCl solution twice a day for 3.5 days during experiment. Mice in Group I were treated with ACTH (500 μg/kg) once a day, 4 hours before the sacrification, and mice in Group II treated with ACTH twice a day for 3.5 days at dose of 500 μg/kg per day. Blood samples were obtained under deep anesthesia before they were sacrificed. The results revealed increased levels of plasma cholesterol, LDL, HDL, non-HDL cholesterols and VLDL in the experimental group treated with ACTH. However, ACTH injection did not produce any alterations in plasma glucose, and triglyceride levels in the same group. Our data show that prolonged ACTH treatment increased plasma cholesterol, LDL, HDL, non- HDL cholesterol and VLDL levels.