Lipoprotein lipase activity in turkey aorta.

Lipoprotein lipase activity was measured in heparin extracts of aortic intima and adventitia from normal and cholesterol-fed turkeys. This lipolytic activity showed typical characteristics of lipoprotein lipase i.e., requirement of serum for activity and a 92% inhibition by protamine sulfate. The highest lipoprotein lipase activity was found in the adventitia of the abdominal aorta. Lipoprotein lipase activity was greater in the intima of the thoracic aorta than in the intima of the abdominal aorta. This higher activity of thoracic intima was not correlated with development of fibrous plaques which were found only in abdominal aorta. Cholesterol-feeding resulted in plasma very low density lipoproteins enriched in cholesterol-ester but had no effect on the level of lipoprotein lipase activity of aortic intima. Cholesterol-feeding, although altering lipoprotein composition, did not increase aortic intima lipoprotein lipase activity.