Experimentally produced hypertension and aortic acid esterase.

The effect of hypertension, which is known to enhance atherosclerosis, on acid esterase activity of rat aortic wall was studied histochemically. The purpose was to test our notion that atherogenesis depends on the balance between supply of lipids to the arterial smooth muscle cells and the lysosomal esterase activities. Hypertension was produced in rats by unilateral nephrectomy and administration of desoxycorticosterone acetate and sodium chloride. The animals reacted with varying degrees of hypertension. In rats with hypertension of a sufficiently high degree and of long duration, inhibition of aortic acid esterase activities occurred. No inhibition of these enzymes occurred in the other organs examined.