Plasma Proteins and Fat Transport in Dogs

Abstract

The rapid injection of dog's chyle into recipient dogs causes the concentration of the plasma beta globulin, and, several hours later, the alpha globulin to increase. Simultaneously the plasma gamma globulins decrease. These changes are maximal 4–7 hours after injection and the plasma returns to normal in 7–24 hours. After injections of vegetable oil, emulsified in the dog's own blood plasma, more marked increases in the plasma alpha (also beta) globulins occur. This is followed by significant increases in the fibrinogen and gamma globulin. These changes remain for at least 7 days and repeated fat injections progressively exaggerate them. The gradual increase in whole blood viscosity in the dog which occurs after emulsified oil injections is associated with and probably due to the increased concentration of large molecular weight globulins and fibrinogen. Extraction of washed chylomicra with either ether or chloroform leaves a protein having an S₂₀ = 4.4 and paper electrophoretic properties of alpha 1 globulins. Similar extraction of lipemic plasma and of whole chyle is followed by a marked decrease in alpha 2 globulin peak and a corresponding increase in the alpha 1 peak. These observations suggest that the protein component of the chylomicra in dogs is largely alpha 1 globulin.