Plasma lipoproteins in European eels (Anguilla anguilla): effects of estradiol

A dose-response effect was observed on the plasma concentration of vitellogenin (ALPP, alkali-labile protein P) over a 33 day time-course with repetitive estradiol-17β treatment of European eel (Anguilla anguilla). The plasma estradiol-17β concentration in the treated groups was not proportional to the doses injected. In the groups treated with a medium (0.5 mg kg BW-1) or high dose (5 mg kg BW-1) of estradiol there was a significant increase in the plasma total cholesterol concentration during the 33 day time course. The most marked dose-response effect of estradiol was that of plasma total lipids. The distribution of cholesterol between the different lipoprotein classes was dose-related: high density lipoproteins (HDL) predominated in the controls and in the low and medium dose groups, while low density lipoproteins (LDL) predominated over HDL in the group given the high estradiol dose. Plasma HDL concentration was markedly decreased in the high dose treated group; this finding is interesting since HDL plays an important role in the uptake of cholesterol from the extrahepatic tissue.