The effect of tocopherol on serum lipid profile in pulmonary emphysema induced by hypercholesterolemic diet

This investigation deals with the effect of tocopherol on serum lipid profile in emphysema experimentally induced by hypercholesterolemic diet. For this study six groups of twenty Chinchilla rabbits each were used: C-control group on standard diet for this species, O - control group on oil diet, Ch - experimental group on hypercholesterolemic diet, T - experimental group received tocopherol intramuscularly, OT - experimental group on oil diet receiving tocopherol intramuscularly and ChT - experimental group on hypercholesterolemic diet receiving tocopherol intramuscularly. After a two-months treatment serum content of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low density lipoproteins (LDL) and high density lipoproteins (HDL) were examined by the enzymatic colorimetric method. Experimental emphysema was histologically confirmed. TC and LDL contents were significantly increased (p<0.01) in the sera of all groups compared to group C. In comparison with group C, TG content was significantly decreased (p<0.01) in all tested groups. In comparison with group O, TC content was significantly decreased (p<0.01) in sera samples of ChT and OT groups. TC content was significantly increased (p<0.01) in the sera of group ChT compared to group OT. Our findings indicate the influence of tocopherol on the serum lipid profile in experimental emphysema, as well as its potentially protective role in the development of this disease.