Changes in the connective tissue of the atherosclerotic intima and media of the aorta

• Published in: Biochimica et biophysica acta. General subjects Vol. 261; no. 2; pp. 418 - 427
• Main Authors: Anastassiades, T., Anastassiadis, P.A., Denstedt, O.F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 29.02.1972
• ISSN: 0304-4165; 1872-8006
• DOI: 10.1016/0304-4165(72)90066-9

Human aortic tissue was selected at autopsy on the basis of clinical and pathological criteria. The “normal” and atherosclerotic regions were excised and the intima and media separated. Hexosamine, sugars, hexuronic acid and hydroxyproline were estimated and expressed on the bases of the dry weight, nitrogen and DNA contents of the tissues. The data, calculated on the latter two criteria, indicated an increase from the “normal” in the glycoprotein and collagen contents of the atherosclerotic intima but not alteration in the total glycosaminoglycuronan content. Verification of these findings was obtained by hydrolysis of the tissues with papain, precipitation of the glycosaminoglycuronans with cetylpyridinium chloride and analysis of the precipitate and supernatant. Regression analysis of the data on the nitrogen basis indicated inverse relationships between the concentration of hexosamine, sugars, hexuronic acid or hydroproline on the one hand and the nitrogen or non-collagen nitrogen on the other. However, the hexuronic acid concentration was much lower in the atherosclerotic than in the normal regions of the intima within the range where both intimae had the same nitrogen or non-collagen nitrogen content.