The effect of elaszym, administered at a rate of 600 E. L. U. per 100g of body weight, was studied in chicks with hyperlipidemia. 14 day old male chicks were fed cholesterol and corn oil for 2 and 7 weeks to induced hyperlipidemia. Cholesterol was mixed in diet with a dosis of 0.7g and corn oil was force-fed at a rate of. 1ml per 100g of body weight respectively.
Cholesterol and corn oil feeding caused a significant increase in serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels respectively. Chicks fed cholesterol alone developed a small amounts of lipid deposits in the interlammelar connective tissue cells of the thoracic aorta. Frequent active and degenerated smooth muscle cells were observed in the aorta of chicks fed corn oil alone. The combined supplementation of cholesterol plus corn oil produced an additive increase in both serum total cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and more lipid deposition occured in the aorta than with either treatment alone. Elaszym lowered both serum total cholesterol and triglyceride levels, especially in the chicks fed a combination of cholesterol and corn oil. Lipid deposition in the aorta was also inhibited by elaszym administration.