Journal of Applied Animal Research

In order to clarify the mechanism by which liver cholesterol content is elevated during chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) embryonic development, fertilized eggs were administrated pravastatin in ovo, a 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA reductase (HMG-CoA reductase) inhibitor, at embryonic day 14 (E14). Embryonic growth and hepatic lipid content were determined at embryonic day 18 (E18). Embryonic growth was retarded by pravastatin in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, hepatic total cholesterol, triacylglycerol and phospholipid contents were decreased with increased pravastatin. These results suggest that higher hepatic cholesterol was associated with HMG-CoA reductase activity and embryonic growth was affected by cholesterol synthesis.