Aim In an effect to study further the anti-atherogenic effects of human plasma HDL, the HDL receptor activity on liver plasma membranes of cholesterol fed As rabbits injected with HDL was investigated. Methods HDL receptor activity was detected by the method of enzyme linked immunosorbent receptor assay (ELISA) and the levels of serum, liver and bile lipids of As rabbits were also determined. Results The results of lipid measurement showed that human plasma HDL could not decrease the level of serum lipids of cholesterol fed rabbits, but decreased significantly the levels of live lipids and increased significantly the levels of bile lipids of As rabbits compared with As rabbits injected with saline. The results of HDL receptor assay showed that the value of Kd was significantly lower in As rabbits than that in normal rabbits (P<0.01). In HDL treated rabbits, no difference was observed with Kd(P>0.05) while Bmax reduced significantly(P<0.05) compared with normal rabbits. Conclusion These results suggested that Kd of rabbit liver plasma membrane HDL receptor reduced significantly when the rabbits were fed with cholesterol rich diet for a long period(22 weeks), whereas HDL seemed to ameliorate or avoid this change. 还原