The Lipoprotein Composition of Dog Lymph

Deposition of lipids during development of atherosclerosis may come from extracellular fluid rather than directly from plasma. The lipoprotein composition of lymph thus assumes importance in the genesis of atherosclerosis. The predominant component found in thoracic duct lymph was the -S 1.21 4 and 7, with lesser amounts of the 23. It was similar qualitatively but not quantitatively to dog's serum. The bulk of lymph lipoproteins derive from blood plasma. After fat feeding the absorbed lipid is delivered by the lymph to the blood in large aggregates containing large quantities of -S > 70 component. The > 70 component seemed to reflect changes in lipid transport in dogs more actively than the relatively more stable -S, 4, 7 and 23 components.