The Phospholipids of Liver, Plasma, and Red Cells in Normal and Cholesterol-Fed Anemic Guinea Pigs

Abstract

The PL classes and their fatty acid compostion were determined in liver, plasma, and RBC from normal and C-fed anemic GP. Compared to other species, guinea pig RBC had low amounts of Sph and high amounts of PC. Most PL of GP had very low levels of 20:4 and lower ratios of 20:4/18:2 and 16:0/18:0 than those of rats and other species which are less susceptible to injury by excess dietary cholesterol. The following changes have been observed in the C-fed anemic GP: Increased proportions and amounts of lyso-PC in the three tissues compensated by nearly equivalent decreases of PC; increased proportions of Sph in liver and plasma; decreased proportions of Sph in RBC accompanied by an increase of PC/Sph ratio; and increased amounts and proportions of PC-20:4 in RBC and PI-20:4 of liver. The possible significance of these changes for the development of the anemia have been discussed.