Feasibility of the use of capillary electrophoresis for the study of vldl assembly intermediates

The chicken has long been a model used for the study of plasma lipoproteins due to the ability to increase VLDL production by administration of estrogen. In this study we were able to demonstrate successful isolation of VLDL assembly intermediates from the livers of hens, roosters, and estrogen treated rosters. Particle diameter of first step particles, as determined by dynamic laser light scattering, was decreased from an average diameter of 31.5 nm in untreated birds, to 16.1 nm 12 hours after estrogen treatment. Effects of estrogen waned after 24 hours and particle diameter of first step particles increased to an average of 23.9 nm. These assembly intermediates, as well as plasma VLDL and VLDLy, were successfully studied using capillary electrophoresis (CE). Effective mobilities of intact plasma VLDL and first step particles decreased after estrogen administration. Hen VLDL showed a single uniform peak whereas rooster VLDL separated into distinct ??subclasses??. Delipidated VLDL, VLDLy and first step assembly intermediates were also successfully separated using CE. This thesis is dedicated to my family who always encouraged me through this process.