LOW PROTEIN DIET AUGMENTS HYPERPROTEINEMIA PRODUCED BY REPEATED INJECTIONS OF HOMOLOGOUS PLASMA : EVIDENCE FOR A DYNAMIC EQUILIBRIUM BETWEEN FOOD, PLASMA, AND TISSUE PROTEINS

1. In 4 dogs maintained on a high protein diet (lean meat) repeated intravenous injections of plasma obtained from healthy donor dogs (18 to 24 injections during the course of 3 to 4 weeks, totalling 1595 to 4355 cc.—averaging 1800 cc. when figured on thc basis of a 5 kg. dog) resulted in a mean increase in the plasma protein concentration of 20 per cent (from 7.1 per cent to 8.5 per cent). 2. In 7 dogs maintained on a low protein diet (only 7 per cent of total caloric value derived from protein) almost identical injections of donor's plasma caused an average increase in the plasma protein concentration of 40 per cent (from 6.7 per cent to 9.4 per cent). 3. The albumin:globulin ratio in the group on the low protein diet showed an average fall of 30 per cent (from 1.4 to 0.9) while in the group on the high protein diet the change in this ratio was insignificant (from 1.3 to 1.2). 4. In all dogs in both groups there was a consistent fall in the hematocrit value of about 15 to 20 per cent (from 49 to 40, or 18 per cent) which can be explained in part at least by the increase in plasma volume of about 15 per cent. 5. There were no significant changes in body weight or in plasma N.P.N.