Effect of Thiouracil on Serum and Liver Cholesterol of the Athyreotic Rat

¹ From the Department of Medicine, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky

Thiouracil (0.5%) was added to the diet of athyreotic rats for a 2-week period and serum and liver cholesterol concentrations compared to those of athyreotic controls. Thiouracil administration resulted in an increase in mean serum cholesterol and a decrease in mean liver cholesterol. Hepatic synthesis of cholesterol from C¹⁴ acetate was not significantly influenced by thiouracil. It is concluded that thiouracil, by altering the plasma-liver partition of cholesterol, exerts a hypercholesterolemic effect which is independent of its antithyroid action.