Correlation of Arachidonic Acid of Serum Cholesterol Esters in Different Species with Susceptibility to Atherosclerosis. ∗

Summary

Serum CEFA composition of 8 different species has been determined by gas-liquid chromatography. Different CEFA spectrums were found for each species. The outstanding variation was the proportions of arachidonic acid in CEFA of the serums. That of the rat had 50% of arachidonic acid and that of the dog had 17%. All species also had a large proportion of linoleic acid in the CEFA of their serums. The rat and the dog, with high arachidonic acid levels in CEFA of their serums, are known to be highly resistant to development of atherosclerosis. Those species having small proportions of arachidonic acid in the CEFA of their serums are susceptible to atherosclerosis and develop the disease spontaneously. This study provides evidence, by association, that level of arachidonic acid in the CEFA may be related to susceptibility to atherosclerosis. It remains open to investigation whether the proportion of arachidonic acid in the CEFA is a characteristic of the species or whether it, and the susceptibility to atherosclerosis, can be altered by dietary measures.