[Comparative characteristics of plasma lipoproteins and mesenteric lymph in the rabbit: spectrum and chemical properties].

Rabbit mesenteric lymph contained all the main classes of lipoproteins detected in plasma: chylomicrons (CM), very low density lipoproteins (VLDL), low density lipoproteins (LDL), high density lipoproteins (HDL). The main classes of lipoproteins in lymph were CM and VLDL, whereas LDL and HDL were the main lipoproteins in blood plasma. The heaviest subfractions HDL3 were not observed in mesenteric lymph. Lymph contained only low amount of LDL; molecular mass of lymphatic LDL was lower as compared with the blood plasma lipoproteins. Mesenteric lymph lipoproteins were enriched with triglycerides and contained less cholesterol, phospholipids and protein than the corresponding blood plasma lipoproteins. As distinct from blood plasma lipoproteins, apo E and apoproteins of low molecular mass (apo C?) were not found in lymphatic lipoproteins. Content of Apo-I was much higher in lymphatic VLDL as compared with the blood plasma VLDL. The dissimilarity in patterns and composition between blood plasma and lymphatic lipoproteins indicated that the latter were derived from intestine. Thus, intestine was able to produce CM, VLDL, HDL2 and apparently a small amount of LDL.