Visualization of primate high density lipoproteins isolated by density gradient ultracentrifugation

High density lipoproteins (HDL) isolated by density gradient ultracentrifugation from the plasma of monkeys ingesting semipurified diets are barely visible. This creates difficulty in separating HDL from other lower density lipoproteins following centrifugation and necessitates collecting lared quantities of background density solution to insure complete recovery of the HDL fraction. A simple procedure is described involving the addition of beta-carotene to nonhuman primate plasma prior to centrifugation which results in the delineation of HDL as a discrete yellow-orange band without affecting certain physical properties of HDL or interfering with standard lipid and protein assays.