A method for the estimation of blood glycerides employing florisil

A rapid, reliable method for the direct determination of glycerides in human blood is required for clinical studies and a suitable method is described in this report.

Abstract

A rapid, reliable method for the direct determination of glycerides in human blood is required for marly clinical studies. A suitable method is described in this report. A column of lh-isil@ (magnesium silicat’e) is employed to remove phospholipids from a lipid extract of plasma or serum, glycerides are then saponified, and glycerol determined by periodate oxidation. NIethods based on similar principles have been developed by Carlson and Wadstzom (l), who have employed a column of silicic acid t,o separat,e glycerides from phospholipids, and by Van Handel and Zilversmit (a), and Cheng and Zilversmit ( 3 ) , who have used zcolitcs to remove phospholipids by one-st,age liquid-solid distribution. Radin et aL. (4) have used T’lorisil for the recovery of cerebrosides free of phospholipid, while Carroll (5) has reported the separation of cholesterol, cholcst)erol esters, triglycerides, diglycerides, and monoglyceritics on 171 orisil. A glycerol standard solution is prepared from reagent, grade glycerol. Specific gravity is determined by comparing t,he weight of glycerol and water delivered from a constmt volume syringe. The water content of glycerol is then calculated (6) and a working standard solution (60 pg/ml) prepared. Solutions made with freshly opened glycerol and freshly distilled water remain unchanged for 18 months at 4’ to 8 O , and 2 mont’hs a t room temperature if protected from contamiriat,ing molds. Four per ecnt alcoholic pot,assium hydroxide solation (95% ethanol) is prepared each week, protected from air and light, and discarded when brown or turbid. Chromotropic acid solution is prepared by dissolving 1 g of 4,5-dihydroxy-2,7-naphthalene disulfonic acid disodium salt (practical grade, Distillation Products, Rochester, New York) in 100 ml of water. The solu-