Arteriosclerosis in the Rat: Aortic Enzyme Changes Accompanying Arterial Pathology.

Abstract

Extracts of arteriosclerotic aortas of female Sprague-Dawley breeder rats were assayed for lactic dehydrogenase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, and 6-phosphogluconic dehydrogenase. Extracts obtained from moderately and severely arteriosclerotic aortas contained significantly less lactic dehydrogenase than extracts of aortas grossly normal or only slightly affected. TPNH production by combined action of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and 6-phosphogluconic dehydrogenase was significantly depressed in extracts from moderately and severely arteriosclerotic aortas. No significant differences were observed in levels of 6-phosphogluconic dehydrogenase.