Changes of insoluble elastin in the rat aorta depending on isolation method.

The present paper brings data on quantitative and qualitative changes of insoluble elastin in the rat aorta depending on the used isolation method. In the content of desmosine crosslinks, so as in the accumulation of insoluble elastin in the aorta, considerable differences were found between the results obtained by means of the cyanogen bromide method and those determined in the samples after alkaline hydrolysis. It is underlined by the authors that these methodical differences must be taken into consideration whenever effects of various drugs on the formation of insoluble elastin and on the desmosine crosslinks are examined. Accumulation of insoluble elastin and formation of desmosine crosslinks in the rat aorta were found to be delayed as compared to the chicks. This, unlike the chicks, enables us to influence the formation of desmosine crosslinks in the rat even during the postnatal period.