Aortic glycopeptide sialic acid, hexose and hexosamine in a genetically selected (WC-2) strain of atherosclerosis-susceptible pigeon.

The aortic content of glycopeptide sialic acid, hexosamine and hexose was studied in a genetically selected strain of White Carneau pigeons (WC-2) with significantly more severe atherosclerosis than randomly bred White Carneau pigeons (RBWC). Pigeons were fed an atherogenic diet for 3 months and examined to determine differences in content of glycopeptide-sugars between WC-2 and RBWC, changes with the progression of atherosclerosis and the relationship of aortic cholesterol to glycopeptide-sugar content. In animals with mainly normal aorta (cholesterol content of 0.2-0.3 mg/cm2-aorta) sialic acid was significantly lower in WC-2 pigeons. The progression of atherosclerosis was associated with increased aortic glycopeptide sialic acid (r = 0.78; p less than 0.05) in WC-2 pigeons whereas an inverse relationship was suggested in RBWC pigeons. In WC-2, but not RBWC pigeons, significant positive relationships were seen for aortic glycopeptide hexosamine and aortic cholesterol and for aortic glycopeptide hexose and aortic cholesterol. The findings implicate a possible role of aortic glycoproteins in either the initiation or modulation of atherosclerosis of the WC-2 pigeon.