Lysosomes of the arterial wall. II. Subcellular fractionation of aortic cells from rabbits with experimantal atheroma.

Serum cholesterol levels of 1,236 healthy persons, including 775 members of 201 families, were analyzed in the investigation of the genetic control of serum cholesterol. It was concluded that there is an important genetic component in the determination of this level in healthy persons, that the gene is probably not sex-linked, and that environmental factors seem to play a lesser role.

Heredity, environment, and serum cholesterol; a study of 201 healthy families.

Plasma cholesterol concentration in normal and cholesterol-fed rabbits. Its variation and heritability.

Serum phospholipid levels were determined in 1,067 healthy persons aged 2 to 77 years. Phospholipid levels increased with age but in a different way for each of the sexes. The age-sex changes of serum phospholipids were similar to those observed for serum cholesterol. Correlation coefficients in members of 156 families indicated that the genetic factor is of importance in determining the serum phospholipid level in health. Because of the age-sex variations of serum phospholipid and serum cholesterol levels, no single arbitrary line can be drawn between normal and abnormally elevated levels of these 2 serum lipid fractions.

Serum phospholipids: genetic and environmental influences.

Human atherosclerosis is a complex, progressive disease process of multiple etiology. There are a number of initiating factors, at least as many augmenting factors and the extent of their interaction is undoubtedly different for every individual. The extent of atherosclerotic involvement in any specific individual is not easily assessed and is essentially masked until it precipitates a clinical event. Thus, research in this field must be carried out using appropriate animal models.

Wang Ci

Papers

Plasma lipid partition of the normal and cholesterol-fed rabbit.