Experimental arteriosclerosis and the plasma kininogen and low molecular weight kininogen antigen concentration in rabbits.

A decrease in trypsin-releasable kinin and in low molecular weight kininogen antigen concentrations was observed in plasma of rabbits with cholesterol-induced arteriosclerosis. In rabbits receiving normal diet for 30 days after 30 days of cholesterol almost complete normalization of the morphological status was observed, which was accompanied by normalization of plasma kinin concentration and by higher than normal concentration of kininogen antigen measured. These changes were not observed in animals receiving normal diet for 30 days after 60 days of cholesterol administration. No data were obtained suggesting a massive kinin release during induction of arteriosclerosis by experimental hypercholesteremia. The possibility of intense kinin formation during a period of repair of the morphological changes was discussed.