SPECIES VARIATIONS IN THE RESPONSE OF SERUM PROTEINS, LIPIDS AND LIPOPROTEINS TO THE CORTISONES*†

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Abstract
Serum and plasma protein, lipid and lipoprotein patterns were investigated in man, dog and rabbit before and after prolonged administration of various adrenocortical steriods. Proteins and lipoproteins were determined by paper electrophoresis using Amidoschwarz and Oil Red O stains with densitometric evaluation. Lipid partition was determined chemically. Man was characterized by the highest levels of serum albumin and cholesterol, and a predominance of beta-lipoprotein. In dogs, beta globulin was relatively prominent; the alpha fraction was predominant among the lipoproteins; and there were high levels of serum lipids other than cholesterol. In rabbits, the lipoprotein profile resembled that in the human; plasma lipid levels were considerably lower. Humans under cortisone therapy and with Cushing s syndrome showed hypoalbuminemia, increased levels of gamma and beta globulins, elevation of the O-fraction of the lipoproteins and of serum lipids. In dogs receiving cortisone or prednisone elevation of plasma alpha-2 globulin was noted. Cortisone or hydrocortisone were without effect on the plasma lipid of lipoprotein patterns. Rabbits responded to administration of corticosteroids by a depression of the alpha-lipoprotein level and marked elevation of the O-fraction; all plasma lipid fractions were greatly increased, particularly neutral fat and total lipid. The effects observed following administration of prednisone were more pronounced than those following cortisone and hydrocortisone. Species characteristics and inter-species differences in the patterns of the serum (plasma) components studied illustrate some of the difficulties involved in correlating metabolic studies in man with those in experimental animals.