Aortic Acid Mucopolysaccharides and Collagen in Scorbutic Guinea Pigs

Abstract

After 4 weeks of receiving an ascorbic acid-deficient diet, otherwise healthy young guinea pigs displayed: an increase of total aortic acid mucopolysaccharides, essentially the result of increased hyaluronic acid content and a decrease of aortic collagen measured as hydroxyproline. These changes are similar to those observed in wound repair during scurvy, although they are quantitatively less. Collagen in the aortic wall was metabolically more active than it was in other body structures.