Hepatic 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA reductase response to litter size in suckling rats

Abstract
Rats were raised in litters of 3 or 14 from the 3rd postnatal day. On day 5, those raised in groups of 3 had elevated blood cholesterol and insulin levels and a very much lower hepatic 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA (HMG CoA) reductase activity, than the other group. When aged 40 days, hepatic HMG CoA reductase activity was higher in the group raised 3 rats/litter than in the large litter group.