Familial hyperlipoproteinemia in beagles.

Abstract Canine serum lipoproteins (Lp) were studied by electrophoretic and immunologic techniques. Two of five normal beagles on a regular diet were spontaneously “hyperlipidemic”. Using the double-layer separating gel, polyacrylamide gel (PAG) block electrophoresis method, α 1 -, α 2 -, and β-Lps were consistently detected. While α 1 -Lp was the major serum Lp in normolipidemic dogs, α 2 - and β-Lps were elevated in the “hyperlipidemic” animals. The α 1 -Lp and α 2 -Lp exhibited A 1 and A 2 antigenic components and β-Lp had B and C components. We propose that in all probability α 1 - and α 2 -Lp have similar A 1 , A 2 components, but that β-Lp contains both B and C components. This suggests that α 1 - and α 2 -Lps, particularly in beagles with familial hyperlipoproteinemia are distinct Lp entities with similar lipid composition and with two common major antigenic components. The albumin fraction of PAG block electrophoretograms contained lipid materials other than free fatty acids. This albumin-lipid complex may be similar to that observed in guinea pig serum. On the basis of this study, the α 2 -Lp of dogs is a distinct and important Lp moiety which is elevated in the early stages of both familial and experimental canine hyperlipoproteinemia.