Mechanism of triglyceridemia in hypercholesterolemic rabbits

To elucidate mechanisms responsible for the increased plasma triglyceride (TG) which occurs in diet-induced hypercholesterolemia in rabbits, albino rabbits were fed a 3% cholesterol diet for various durations, and the following determinations were carried out: plasma lipid levels; turnover rate of plasma TG (labeled very low density lipoprotein, or glycerol-2- 3 H method); lipoprotein lipase activity of the heart and plasma; fatty acid and acetate incorporation into TG in the liver (homogenates and slices). Plasma levels of both free and esterified cholesterol and phospholipid increased rapidly, while TG increased relatively slowly during cholesterol feeding without change in hepatic TG synthesis. The fractional turnover was, on the other hand, depressed within a week. The decrease in plasma TG in response to a heparin injection was less in hypercholesterolemic rabbits than in normal animals. However, the measured activity of heart lipoprotein lipase of cholesterol-fed rabbits was higher than that of the control group. When the effects of two substrates (very low density lipoprotein from normo- and from hypercholesterolemic plasma) were compared, the apparent activity was lower with the latter. The Degrees of this inhibition was proportional to the amount of cholesterol in the lipoproteins. The inhibition of lipoprotein lipase activity was also observed with the addition of cholesterol to activated Ediol, but not with addition of esterified cholesterol. Lineweaver-Burk plots were constructed using partially purified plasma lipoprotein lipase, and Km values for Ediol, Ediol plus protamine sulphate, and Ediol plus cholesterol were calculated. The presence of cholesterol in the substrate of lipoprotein lipase competitively inhibits the enzyme activity, and this is the mechanism of hyperglyceridemia observed in diet-induced hypercholesterolemic rabbits.

Lymphocytoid lines from persons with sex chromosome anomalies

Permanent lymphocytoid cell lines have been established from patients with the XYY and XXY chromosome constitutions. Large amounts of these and other cell lines with genetic defects can be provided for various studies.

Biphasic pattern of thymus regeneration after whole-body irradiation

Whole-body irradiation of mice with 300 or 400 R causes a precipitous fall in thymus weight, followed by an increase in the mitotic index and an almost complete restoration of thymus mass. This phase is followed by a secondary fall in thymus weight and gradual recovery. This secondary fall can be prevented by intravenous injection of bone marrow or shielding of the hind limbs during irradiation. The hypothesis is proposed that the thymus depends on the migration of cells from the bone marrow to the thymus for the maintenance of its cell population. Bone marrow cells with chromosome markers injected intravenously into normal or lightly irradiated (150 R) animals do not populate the host bone marrow to any significant degree. After whole-body irradiation with heavy doses (400 R), donor cells dominate the marrow. There may be a competition between dividing cells in the bone marrow which regulates proliferation of hemic cells. Bone marrow cells with marker chromosomes do not repopulate the thymus in irradiated animals until long after repopulating the bone marrow. It is possible that these cells have to pass through the marrow or the blood-marrow barrier to acquire characteristics needed for entering the thymus. After whole-body irradiation with 500 R or more, the first phase of regeneration of the thymus, represented by an increase in the mitotic index, does not occur to a significant degree. Apparently cells in the thymus capable of proliferation have been largely eliminated, and restoration of organ mass depends chiefly on seeding from other sources, probably the bone marrow. After whole-body irradiation with 200 R, only the first phase of thymus weight loss and regeneration takes place. Probably bone marrow injury is too small to interfere with the supply of cells repopulating the thymus.

Lipid composition of the subcellular elements, and mitochondrial respiration of the heart and liver in hypercholesterolemic rabbits

Rabbits were fed a diet containing 3% cholesterol for 2–6 months. Total cholesterol, cholesterol ester, phospholipids, and triglycerides were increased in the plasma. Total cholesterol and cholesterol ester were also increased in the heart mitochondria and supernatant, and liver mitochondria, microsomes, and supernatant, but triglycerides and phospholipids in all cell fractions studied remained within the normal ranges. The respiratory control ratio, P/O ratio, and oxygen consumption of the cardiac and hepatic mitochondria were not affected by the increase in cholesterol content. Possible mechanisms responsible for the altered lipid composition in the cells of rabbits on a high-cholesterol diet, as well as that for the unchanged mitochondrial respiratory function are discussed.

Continuous gas chromatography

Continuous gas chromatography has been achieved with a radialflow chromatographic channel free of packing and formed between two closely spaced (50 to 75 microns) disc surfaces (optically flat and solvent-coated) rotating at one-half or one revolution per second. This technique provides high capacity and immediate response (in a fraction of a second). Mixtures of hydrocarbon gases have been separated at flow rates of 6 to 30 cubic centimeters per minute with 100 to 150 cubic centimeters per minute of nitrogen carrier gas in a chromatographic channel only 39 millimeters long.