Cholestyramine feeding in weaned rats. Increase in plasma corticosterone levels and bile acid synthesis following adrenalectomy.

Feeding cholestyramine to weaned rats increased the bile acid pool and activity of cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase as expected. Following adrenalectomy, cholestyramine still increased the activity of cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase but the magnitude of increase was lower (P less than 0.01) than noted in intact rats. Surprisingly, cholestyramine feeding to both intact and adrenalectomized rats increased plasma levels of corticosterone.