Effects of Estrogen and Folic Acid on High Fat Induced Hypercholesterolemic Mice.

Aims: To elucidate the effect of estrogen and folic acid on high fat (butter) induced lipid profile (total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL), and triglyceride (TG)) and on tissue texture changes in mice. Designs: Randomized block design. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Physiology and Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh between January 2012 and April2012. Methodology: 2 months old 50 male Swiss Albino mice (Mus musculus) were used for this study and divided into equal groups. Group A (control) was fed with normal rat pellet. Mice in the group B was fed with butter; group C was fed with butter and estrogen; group D was fed with butter and folic acid and group E was fed with butter, estrogen and folic acid. The atheroprotective effect of estrogen and folic acid was evaluated based on weight gain, biochemical parameters and histopathology. Results: The highest body weight gain was detected in group B (P<0.001). In biochemical study, group B showed the increase in total plasma cholesterol, especially low density lipoprotein (LDL), and triglyceride (TG) (P<0.001) compared to other treated groups. Group C, D and E showed a lower level of total plasma cholesterol (P<0.001) compared to group B. Among them group E showed the lowest total plasma cholesterol level (P<0.001). In histopathological study, the aorta of butter treated group showed sloughing of lining endothelium, increased aortic wall thickness and loss of integrity of tunica intima. It also revealed fatty changes in liver in animal models fed with butter, compared with those on a normal diet. Conclusions: 20% butter supplementation would be able to cause a rise in lipid profile and produce degenerative changes in aorta and liver and addition of estrogen or folic acid in butter supplemented diet counteracts the adverse effect.