title: Distribution and partial characterization of the plasma lipoproteins in the hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus L.), a hibernator with potential use in the study of the hormonal regulation of lipoprotein metabolism.
abstract: The hedgehog is a hibernator in which yearly cycles of several endocrine activities and seasonal variations of plasma lipids have already been demonstrated. We have consequently undertaken a study of plasma lipids and lipoproteins in this animal, bled during late April and May. Plasma cholesterol levels (178 +/- 30 mg/100 ml) were comparable with those in normal humans, while triacylglycerol was lower (46 +/- 17 mg/100 ml) and phospholipids higher (252 +/- 35 mg/100 ml). The main characteristics of the plasma lipoprotein spectrum, as determined by sequential and density gradient preparative ultracentrifugation, analytical ultracentrifugation and gel filtration chromatography, were (1) a low concentration of very-low-density components (d less than 1.006 g/ml, about 20 mg/100 ml); (2) a continuity between the low (1.006-1.063 g/ml) and high (1.063-1.21 g/ml) density components, the former (about 150 mg/100 ml) exhibiting a considerable heterogeneity upon polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis while the latter were largely predominating (570 mg/100 ml); (3) the presence, at a density of 1.087 g/ml, of a band migrating electrophoretically like human low-density lipoproteins, a finding consistent with the results of apolipoprotein electrophoresis, which showed the presence of a high-molecular-weight counterpart to apolipoprotein B, in both the low- and high-density ranges defined above; (4) the presence, throughout the entire density spectrum, of an apolipoprotein with molecular weight and mobility in polyacrylamide/urea gels similar to human apolipoprotein A-I, and (5) the presence of very-high-density lipoproteins (d 1.178-1.259 g/ml) responsible for the transport of approximately 15% of plasma cholesterol and 20% of phospholipids.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D006364:Hedgehogs / Q000097:blood*; D006605:Hibernation; D006801:Humans; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood; D008079:Lipoproteins, VLDL / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000097:blood; D013045:Species Specificity; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D008074:Lipoproteins; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D008079:Lipoproteins, VLDL; D010743:Phospholipids; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol