Comparison of nonenzymatic glycosylation of arterial and venous collagens.

The extent of nonenzymatic glycosylation of collagen isolated from sheep carotid arteries and jugular veins was compared. It was found that the level of this modification in the arterial collagen was about 2.7 times higher than that in the venous collagen. Arteriovenous fistulae were established between the common carotid artery and external jugular vein on one side only of six sheep. Sham arteriotomy and phlebotomy were performed on the contralateral vessels. Although there was an increase in the concentration of these ketoamine-linked hexoses in all the tissue samples assayed, a difference of between two- and three-fold was maintained between the arterial and venous tissue. The relationship of this finding to the development of vascular complications and to the level of circulating reducing sugar is discussed.