Aortic enzyme alterations in experimentally induced atherosclerosis in rhesus monkeys
Kukreja, R.S.; Bhardwaj, J.R.; Datta, B.N.; Chakravarti, R.N.
Indian Journal of Medical Research 79: 260-267
1984
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-5340 PMID: 6746043 Document Number: 222894
Advanced aortic and coronary atherosclerosis was produced in monkeys by 3 procedures; (a) high fat and cholesterol feeding (atherogenic diet) for 7 mo., (b) atherogenic diet combined with daily i.v. injections of epinephrine and (c) atherogenic diet plus renal hypertension. Five of 6 monkeys (83.3%) subjected to procedure (b) developed advanced atherosclerosis in aorta and coronary artery. However, the frequency of these lesions following procedures (c) and (a) were 66 and 50%, respectively. All experimental animals had significant elevation of serum lipids while aortic cholesterol content was significantly higher in monkeys subjected to procedure (b) only. Histochemically, the aorta showed increased activity of acid phosphatase and lipase following procedure (b), increased alkaline phosphatase following procedure (c) and decreased esterase activity following procedure (a) as compared to normal control. Fat, however, was increased markedly in all the 3 experimental groups as compared to normal control.