A comparative study of the arterial tissue metabolism in atherosensitive and atheroresistant species. I. Comparison between rabbit and rat aortas.

Twenty eight enzymatic activities and four macromolecular substances have been histochemically compared in rat and rabbit aortas, embedded in a common block. The study was carried out at different stages of development: 3 days, 3 months, 7-9 months and 17-19 months. In addition, lipase and cholinesterase were biochemically assayed in adult rat and rabbit aortas. The rat aortas (atheroresistant) had a better supply of aerobic oxidoreductases [linked to the pentose pathway (G6PD, 6PGD) as well as to the Krebs cycle (SD, ICD)], lipolytic enzymes (acid esterases, cholinesterase, lipase), lysosomal enzymes (acid PH/ase, Aryl-sulf/ase - Betaglu/ase), ADPase - ATPase - AlK Ph/ase Alpha GPD and acid lipids. Rabbit aortas (atherosensitive) were richer in metachromatic GAG, UDPGD (GAG Anabolism), glycogen, and related enzymes (phosphorylase, glycogen synthetase) as well as 5'-nucleotidase, Beta HBD, Lactate D and Aldolase. These differences support the hypothesis that arterial atherosensitivity is related to the activity and efficiency of smooth muscle cell energetic and catabolic processes, which govern the behaviour of lipids, proteins and carbohydrates as they penetrate the arterial wall. The factors that determine the proliferative and sclerogenic responses of arterial tissues to aggressions and, in particular, the response to lipids, remain, however, to be determined.