The lipid composition and water content of brain, heart, lung, liver, gut, and skin in the host component of the albino rat-Walker carcinoma 256 dual organism.

Abstract

The carcass of albino rats bearing Walker carcinoma 256 contains, at or near death of the dual organism, concentrations of lipids and water altered in the direction of the concentrations of these constituents in the tumor component. The objective of the investigation herein reported was to find the extent to which brain, heart, lung, liver, gut, and skin participated in this shift of lipid and water levels of the host carcass. Total lipid, neutral fat, total fatty acids, total cholesterol, ester cholesterol, free cholesterol, and phospholipid of these tissues were measured by oxidative micromethods in 23 albino rats bearing Walker carcinoma 256 at or near death of the dual organism. The results were expressed as gm. per 100 gm. dry weight of tissue and compared with corresponding values in 23 littermate albino rats without tumors, and differences with a P value of 0.01 or less were noted. Brain could be proved to take no part in the lipid and water shift in the carcass. Heart, lung, liver, and gut participated in the increased water shift. Liver participated in the increased free cholesterol shift. Skin and gut participated markedly in the decreased total lipid, neutral fat, and total fatty acids shift. Gut participated in the increased phospholipid shift. There were no other significant changes in lipid or water levels. These data are further evidence of the metabolism-directing influence of Walker carcinoma 256 on the host.