Abstract
Plasma HDL cholesterol was determined by the enzymatic cholesterol assay after precipitation of apo B containing lipoproteins with heparin and manganese chloride. Apoprotein A-I and A-II were measured by the rocket immunoelectrophoresis with the specific antisera for each of the apoproteins. The levels of HDL cholesterol in 8 healthy young men and 8 women were 56±6 and 60±7mg/100ml, respectively. The levels of A-I and A-II in 10 healthy young men were 119±10 and 112±18U/100ml, respectively. The apoprotein levels in 9 young women revealed 135±13 for A-I and 115±12U/100ml for A-II. (The concentration of apo A-I and A-II in the reference serum was taken arbitrarily as 100U/100ml). The levels of A-I was significantly higher in women but no sex related difference was observed in A-II level. The results were compatible with the abundance of HDL2 in women. The patients with liver disease showed decreased levels of A-I and A-II in same extent suggesting the decrease mainly in HDL3 concentration. It is also important to consider the ratio of HDL cholesterol and A-I since the ratio is higher in HDL2. In addition to the HDL cholesterol determination, the measurement of A-I and A-II concentration provide us more detailed informations on HDL metabolism.
