OBSERVATIONS ON PLASMA-PROTEINS AND IT'S RELATIONSHIP WITH THE BODY WEIGHT AT PMCH, PATNA

Background : The human body is composed of ve substances namely water, protein, fat, carbohydrate and minerals. All these substances are very closely interrelated, each acting with the other. Among these water acts as a bridge. The subjects included were medical students, staff of Methods : Patna Medical College, Patna, Bihar, businessman, serviceman and housewives. Results : The present study has been made on plasma protein in 54 normal healthy subjects of both sexes, 27 subjects of vegetarian group and 27 subjects of non-vegetarian group. In the whole study group the level of mean plasma protein ranged from 5.8 g/dL – 8.4 g/dL with a mean of 6.96 g/dL. (S.D. - 0.50, S.E. - 0.06). The plasma protein level Conclusion : in the study group is almost identical with the standard reference level.

Total plasma protein level as an indicator of condition in wild American kestrels (Falco sparverius)

Total plasma protein levels were determined for 292 female and 228 male American kestrels (Falco sparverius) in the wild. Plasma protein levels were significantly higher in females than in males, and higher during prelaying than during incubation. For both sexes, plasma protein levels did not vary significantly with the number of days before or after egg laying on which the sample was taken, time of sampling, prey abundance, age, molt, or infection by the blood parasite Haemoproteus sp. Protein levels in females increased with date of sampling and body condition during prelaying, while the same pattern was seen in males during incubation. With the exception of those of prelaying females, plasma protein levels increased with ambient temperature. The results of this study suggest that at least some of the variation observed in total protein levels is attributable to physical condition. However, further investigation is required before the reliability of using total plasma protein level as a tool to assess the health and condition of kestrels is known.

THE EFFECTS OF OESTROGEN AND GONADOTROPHINS ON LIPID AND PROTEIN METABOLISM IN XENOPUS LAEVIS DAUDIN

SUMMARY The effect of exogenous oestrogen and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) on the concentration of serum lipids and protein has been investigated in the South African clawed toad, Xenopus laevis Daudin. Oestradiol-17β was implanted i.p. in mature females; the rate of absorption was 13·6 μg./day. Within 10 days the plasma concentration of all lipid components increased significantly (unesterified and esterified fatty acids, cholesterol, phospholipids). The lipid concentration tended to level out after treatment for 20 days. In contrast, oestradiol caused a steady and continued rise in the plasma protein level for up to 70 days after implantation. Electrophoresis showed that the increased protein concentration was due to the emergence of a new plasma protein or proteins with a high phosphorus, calcium and lipid content. Injections of oestradiol benzoate showed the responses to be dose-dependent; the lowest effective dose was 1·0 μg./100 g. body weight/day. Implants of oestradiol in males and hypophysectomized females resulted in a similar elevation of protein and lipid components. Mammalian FSH depressed the plasma lipid content in both untreated and oestradiol-implanted females but had no effect on the newly emergent proteins and their associated components. The results are discussed in relation to the effects of oestradiol on plasma constituents in other oviparous vertebrate groups.

Effect of dietary protein level and thyroxine on vitamin A depletion from liver in chicks

1. The effect of dietary protein level and supplementation with thyroxine and thiouracil on depletion of liver stores of vitamin A, on the percentage of liver vitamin A in the alcohol form and on the plasma level of vitamin A and protein has been studied in chicks. In an experiment with cockerels the relation was investigated between the vitamin A level of plasma and the electrophoretic pattern of its proteins.2. Liver vitamin A depletion was considerably reduced by lowering the dietary protein level.3. Protein malnutrition lowered the percentage of vitamin A found in the liver in the alcohol form.4. Depletion of vitamin A from the liver was related to the percentage of vitamin A in the alcohol form.5. Thyroxine increased both vitamin A depletion from the liver and the percentage of vitamin A in the alcohol form, whereas thiouracil had the opposite effect.6. Plasma vitamin A, and plasma protein contents were significantly lowered in cockerels receiving a 5% protein diet. The drop in plasma protein level was essentially caused by a reduction of the albumin fraction. No significant change in the levels of globulins was observed even after a 4-week period of protein malnutrition.7. When the dietary protein level was restored to normal both the albumin and vitamin A levels in plasma increased.