Effect of X-Irradiation on Lipid Metabolism: III. Dog Serum Lipoproteins

Abstract

Derangements in serum lipid and lipoprotein concentrations resulting from lethal X-irradiation in various species have received considerable attention since the observation by Rosenthal (1) that a characteristic serum lactescence appears in rabbits dying of radiation injury. This effect has since been shown to be associated with a general increase of serum lipoproteins of densities less than 1.063 gm/ml in this species (2). Studies in this laboratory and elsewhere have shown that radiation-induced death in the dog is associated with a terminal rise in serum lipid concentrations (8, 4). It seemed of interest to extend such experiments to observations of total serum lipoprotein patterns associated with death of the dog after irradiation. It was hoped that such studies would not only provide insight into the mechanisms of radiationinduced lipemia but also would establish the value of lipoprotein distribution patterns as a diagnostic tool in radiation illness.