Change in regulation of serum cholesterol induced by homologous and heterologous desoxyribonucleic acid
Desoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was carefully prepared in a highly purified, undenatured form from beef brain, beef liver and rabbit liver. One milligram of DNA was injected into each rabbit. Over a period of 2–6 months the mean serum cholesterol declined significantly below normal control levels. This change in the mean largely reflected the decline in cholesterol levels of those animals with high normal values. Concomitantly, the standard deviation and coefficient of variation of the serum cholesterol levels decreased to one-third the normal control values. The serum phospholipids and neutral fat showed similar lower mean levels and decreasing variation. Evidence is presented that the injected DNA is the active material producing these changes. Homologous and heterologous DNA were equally effective. An hypothesis is suggested relating the DNA-induced changes in the serum lipids to polygenic regulatory systems.