Endogenous cyclic adenosine monophosphate in tissues of rabbits fed an atherogenic diet.

Rabbits fed a high cholesterol diet experienced a significant increase in plasma adenosine 3,5-monophosphate (cyclic AMP), which was simultaneous with the increase in plasma cholesterol. The content of cyclic AMP in atherosclerotic lesion areas of rabbit aortic intima-media was significantly higher (0.24 picomole per microgram of DNA) than that in adjacent nonlesion areas or in aortic intima-dedia from control animals (0.09 picomole per microgram of DNA). The cyclic AMP content of heart, liver, skeletal muscle, and diaphragm showed no significant elevation in animals fed cholesterol.