The relationship of hormones to arterial glycosaminoglycans and atherosclerosis.

Glycosaminoglycan fractions were measured in representative large and medium sized arteries of normal, hypophysectomized and hormone treated young beagles. Hyaluronate, heparan sulphate, dermatan sulphate and the isomeric chondroitin sulphates were determined in the aortic arch, thoracic and abdominal segments, in the external iliac, superior mesenteric, renal, common carotid and coronary arteries. The hormones used for replacement therapy of hypophysectomized animals were growth hormone, thyroxine, cortisone and the sex hormones testosterone, estrogen and progesterone. The sensitivity to an individual hormone was found to differ in various segments of the arterial tree; the thoracic and abdominal aorta were most responsive but renal and superior mesenteric arteries were relatively inert. The hypothesis is advanced that arteries with a GAG metabolism highly sensitive to hormones are more prone to develop atherosclerosis than arteries that have a limited sensitivity to alterations in endocrine balance.