Lipid Content of Chick Erythrocytes and Plasma

Abstract

Summary

Data are presented on the composition of chick plasma and erythrocyte lipids. The erythrocyte lipids differ from plasma lipids in that 96% of the cholesterol is present as the free form, lipid phosphorus is over twice as high as the plasma level, and the glyceride level is approximately one-third that of plasma. The total lipid level of red cells (mg/100 ml) was also found to be higher than that of plasma. A lack of correlation between erythrocyte and plasma levels of cholesterol and glycerides was noted, indicating that erythrocyte lipid levels are independent of plasma concentration. The similarities between avian and mammalian erythrocyte lipids are discussed.