Abstract
We have investigated the effect of streptozotocin-induced diabetes on the concentration of serum lipids (total cholesterol, TC; triacylglycerol, TAG; high density lipoprotein cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol; and phospholipids) in virgin and pregnant rats. In streptozotocin-induced diabetic virgin rats, serum TC and TAG levels were raised significantly whereas those of HDL-cholesterol decreased significantly. The changes in serum lipids were adjusted with the administration of insulin to diabetic rats, when these values became very similar to those of control rats. Streptozotocin-induced diabetic pregnant rats showed hypocholesterolaemia in the first trimester and hypercholesterolaemia in the third trimester. The concentrations of TAG were raised significantly throughout the stages of pregnancy, being higher in the third trimester of diabetic rats, whereas the HDL-cholesterol concentration decreased significantly. The phospholipid concentrations were not significantly different in streptozotocin-induced diabetic pregnant rats. (C) 1998 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.