Origin and Destiny of Cholesterol in the Animal Organism. 461 



indicates that if an animal is found by a reliable experimental method 

 to contain 12 per cent, more or less blood than is deduced by calcula- 

 tion from the surface, the average constant of the species being used, 

 it is probable that the blood volume of the animal is abnormal, whilst, 

 if it is 20 per cent, smaller or larger, it is almost certain that the blood 

 volume is abnormally small or large. 



It may be pointed out, however, that if the blood volume were expressed 

 as a percentage of the weight, it would only be possible to say with the 

 same degree of certainty that the blood volume of an animal was abnormal 

 when it differed by at least 40 per cent, from the calculated figure. 



The Origin and Destiny of Cholesterol in the Animal Organism. 

 Part VIII. — On the Cholesterol Content of the Liver of Rabbits 

 under Various Diets and during Inanition. 



By G. W. Ellis and J. A. Gardner. 



(Communicated by Dr. A. D. Waller, F.E.S. Received November 8, — Eead 

 December 7, 1911.) 



(From the Physiological Laboratory of the University of London, South Kensington.) 



In Parts V* and Vllf of this series of papers evidence was brought forward 

 to show that when cholesterol, free and in the form of esters, is given with 

 the food of rabbits, some is absorbed and finds its way into the blood stream, 

 and that an increase of both free cholesterol and cholesterol esters takes 

 place in the blood. 



This result affords support to the working hypothesis with regard to the 

 origin and destiny of cholesterol in the animal organism, which we were led 

 to formulate in an earlier paper, j viz., that cholesterol is a constituent 

 constantly present in all cells, and when these cells are broken down in the 

 life process the cholesterol is not excreted as a waste product but is utilised 

 in the formation of new cells. A function of the liver is to break down dead 

 cells, e.g., blood corpuscles, and eliminate their cholesterol in the bile. After 

 the bile has been poured into the intestine in the processes of digestion, the 



* ' Eoy. Soc. Proc.,' 1909, B, vol. 81, pp. 230—247. 

 ' t 'Roy. Soc. Proc.,' 1910, B, vol. 82, pp. 559—568 ; see also Pribram, 'Biochem. Zeit.,' 

 1906, vol. 1, p. 413. 



X 'Roy. Soc. Proc.,' 1908, B, vol. 81, pp. 110—128. 



