CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF CEREBRAL ARTERIES: THE CONCENTRATION OF LIPIDS AND MINERALS COMPARED WITH THOSE IN THE INTERNAL CAROTID

Abstract

Total and free cholesterol, total phospholipid, nonlipid phosphorus, Ca, and fat-free dry residue were determined in the internal carotid and cerebral arteries obtained at autopsy from 14 male subjects aged 40 to 85 yrs. In terms of wet weight, there was no significant difference between mean concentration of lipids in the internal carotid arteries and that in the cerebral arteries. On the other hand, the mean concentration of Ca and nonlipid P was much greater in internal carotid arteries than in cerebral arteries. Total, free, and ester cholesterol was significantly correlated with both age and the severity of the atherosclerosis. Ester cholesterol expressed as a percentage of total cholesterol was also significantly correlated with age and the severity of the disease process. For the internal carotid artery, the concentration of Ca and nonlipid P was correlated with both age and the severity of the atherosclerosis. This was in contrast to the cerebral arteries in which the concentration of Ca and nonlipid P was extremely low and was found to be correlated neither with age nor the severity of the disease.