Lecithin fatty acid composition in bile and plasma of man, dogs, rats, and oxen

Abstract

The lecithins of bile and plasma from nine patients, three dogs, four rats, and two steers (oxen) were extracted and their fatty acid patterns were determined. In all four species the lecithin of bile had a higher concentration of palmitic acid than did that of plasma. The concentration of stearic and arachidonic acids was higher in plasma lecithin. These differences were statistically significant.The work of others shows that biliary and plasma lecithins are both derived from the liver. Plasma lecithin fatty acid composition was not noticeably changed on passage through the tissues. We conclude, therefore, that the different patterns indicate either the presence of two functionally distinct pools of lecithin in the liver, or selection from a single heterogeneous pool.

Keywords

• lecithin
• fatty acid composition
• bile
• plasma
• man
• dog