Role of the low density lipoprotein receptor in penetration of low density lipoprotein into rabbit aortic wall.

The present study was designed to determine whether binding of low density lipoprotein (LDL) to endothelial LDL receptors contributes significantly to the penetration of LDL into the normal rabbit aorta. Initial flux rate was used as a measure of uptake of LDL. Reductive methylation of LDL is known to block its recognition by the LDL receptor. Therefore, the difference in flux rates of native LDL and reductively methylated LDL (methyl-LDL) was assumed to represent the receptor-dependent uptake. Native LDL and methyl-LDL were labeled with different isotopes (125I or 131I) and both were injected simultaneously into the same rabbit. After 30 to 60 minutes, trichloroacetic acid-precipitable counts were determined in aortic specimens. The initial flux rates, expressed as plasma clearance (nl/g/hr), were 1787 for native LDL and 1924 for methyl-LDL. The difference was not significant, which suggests that the flux of LDL into the aorta is not significantly dependent upon, or regulated by, endothelial LDL receptors, but is mediated by other mechanisms.