STUDIES IN PHOSPHOLIPID METABOLISM: I. EFFECT OF GUANIDOACETIC ACID AND CHOLINE ON LIVER PHOSPHOLIPIDS

An attempt was made to produce 'forced methylation' and subsequent reduction of lecithin content of livers of rats fed a semipurified diet. The addition of guanidoacetic acid to the diet of the rats did not alter either the total phospholipid extracted from their livers or the liver lecithin content significantly. This constant pattern was observed whether choline was included in the diet or not. However, in animals fed a diet deficient in choline, the ratio of lecithin and cephalin extracted from their livers was altered, although the total phospholipid content remained constant.