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The effects of alcohol on plasma lipids removal were studied in 16 control subjects by comparative measurements of turbidity and triglyceridemia. Alcolhol was administered intravenously for 3 h, either after fat meal or 2 h before artificial lipid emulsion infusion. Compared to the control study, alcohol determines a persistant elevation of induced hyperlipemia and was thought to decrease plasma lipids removal. In fact, rats epididymal fat pads lipoprotein lipase activity is decreased after alcohol intraperitoneal administration. Moreover, in man, the fractional removal constant following an intravenous fat tolerance test was slowed down after alcohol infusion. Both results agree with the decreased removal rate of fat emulsion particles and chylomicrons on account of alcohol.

Summary Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity was studied in rat epididymal fat and heart. In adipose tissue, diet LPL induction lowered with age and was inhibited during cold exposure. Nicotinic acid, glucagon and norethindrolone propionate enhanced LPL activity and estrogens showed an opposite effect. In heart, starvation and cold exposure induced LPL activation; glucose and nicotinic acid decreased LPL activity, but hormones had no significant effect. To some extent, AMP c seems to be a mediator regulating LPL activity in adipose tissue. In heart the regulation mechanisms are still controversial.