Abstract
The mechanism behind the hypolipidaemic effect of the drug Acipimox was studied in rat. The triacylglycerol (TG) lowering effect of the drug was accompanied by a marked reduction in free fatty acid (FFA) levels in the plasma. Also, the flux of TG from the liver to the plasma was substantially reduced. The liver TG content was not significantly changed. No significant effect of Acipimox treatment on the activities of glycerol 3-phosphate acyltransferase, phosphatidate phosphohydrolase or diacylglycerol acyltransferase in rat liver was observed. These findings strongly support the contention that Acipimox exerts its TG-low-ering effect mainly by reducing FFA influx to the liver and thereby reducing the de novo biosynthesis of TG in the liver.