Changes of Glycoproteins in Normal, Obese, and Arteriosclerotic Subjects

• Published in: Nihon Rōnen Igakkai zasshi Vol. 2; no. 3; pp. 157 - 164
• Main Authors: Wakamatsu, Hideo, Ito, Kiyoaki, Goto, Yuichiro, Okajima, Shigetaka, Aizawa, Toyozo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: The Japan Geriatrics Society 1965
• ISSN: 0300-9173
• DOI: 10.3143/geriatrics.2.157

The authors have an opinion that changes of glycoprotein metabolism of many tissues, especially those of connective tissues, relate intimately to aging changes and arteriosclerosis as a causative factor, and that changes of serum glycoproteins indicate, more or less, those of tissues. In this paper, we estimated serum level of seromucoid (Winzler's mucoprotein), protein-bound hexose (PBH), total protein and fraction of serum glycoproteins (Schiff positive substances) and proteins in normal, arteriosclerotic and obese people to find the relationship between changes of glycoprotein metabolism and aging or arteriosclerosis. The reason to estimate those substances in obese people was that obesity was considered as a condition preparing arteriosclerosis. The results were as follows: 1) The mean level of seromucoid and PBH were increased with aging. The differences between the young group (year range 18-35) and the middle aged (36-59 years) were statistically significant. However, those between the middle aged and the aged (over 60 years) were not. Glycoprotein fraction showed statistically significant decrease of albumin and increase of α1-globulin in the aged group compared with those in the young. Those in the middle aged were intermediate. 2) In the middle aged obese group, seromucoid and PBH were significantly elevated. Each value showed a lineal positive correlation with obesity index calcurated from body weight and height. Glycoprotein fraction in this group were not significantly different from control. 3) In the arteriosclerotic group, seromucoid and PBH were significantly elevated. However, comparing each corresponding group, the increase of PBH in middle aged arteriosclerotic group and increase of seromucoid in the aged were statistically significant. In both the middle aged and the aged arteriosclerotic group, α1-globulin was significantly increased. The decrease of albumin was significant only in the middle aged group. 4) The morning and afternoon levels of PBH and seromucoid of the same individual were not different.