[Carbohydrate tolerance and intracellular sodium concentration in rabbits with dietary hypercholesterolemia].

The transport of sodium ions and glucose is a specialized membrane function. Variations in the cholesterol content of the cell membrane influence these functions. The influence of a hypercholesterolemia upon the intracellular sodium concentration and the glucose tolerance was investigated in cholesterol/rape oil and in cholesterol fed rabbits. The cholesterol/rape oil fed rabbits had lower KG-values and higher peripheral insulin levels than the control animals. The Na+Ery was decreased after 12 weeks of hypercholesterolemia. The na+Muscle was not changed. A negative correlation was found between the KG-value and the Na+Ery (Na+Muscle) in normal rabbits. In the hypercholesterolemic rabbits existed a negative correlation between the KG-value and the Na+Muscle and a positive correlation between the KG-value and the Na+Ery. It was postulated that membrane functions determined these correlations.