DEFICIENCY OF THE PHOSPHOLIPIDS 251 



proliferation of intimal cells took place, so that small platiucs resulted. 

 It is not known whether or not this is applicable to atheroma in man. 



Guggenheim and Diamant'"' found that the livers of choline-deficient 

 rats maintained on either a low-fat (5%) or a high-fat (20%) diet showed 

 a reduction of the pitressin-inactivating capacity. Diuresis was also 

 retarded, regardless of the amount of protehi in the diet. Supplementation 

 of the choline-deficient diet with either vitamin B12 (GO and 1000 iig./kg. 

 of ration) or aureomycin (50 mg. kg. of ration) did not reduce the fat 

 content of the liver. However, the pitressin-inactivating capacity of the 

 liver was significantly increased by the addition of vitamin B12 to the low- 

 fat diet, and also to the high-fat ration when the amount of 1000 ^g./kg. of 

 ration was given. Aureomycin added to the high-fat, choline-deficient 

 diet was equally effective. It appears, therefore, that the antilipotropic 

 effect of choline deficiency does not necessarily accompany impairment 

 of the pitressin-inactivating capacit}^ of the liver. 



><" K. Guggenheim and E. J. Diamant, J. Nutrition, 57, 249-260 (1955). 



