Fixation et libération du [4-14C]cholestérol par le tissue conjonctif cultivé in vivo dans des éponges en polyvinyle

Abstract

In order to examine the role of aortic cells — particularly the mesenchyme — in promoting and sustaining atherosclerotic lesions, we studied cholesterol transfer in an experimental model. This model comprised a connective tissue compartment that directly exchanges with the blood department. The connective tissue was obtained by subcutaneously implanting polyvinyl sponges in the rat. Transfer of blood cholesterol to sponge tissue and release of sponge tissue cholesterol were measured by using labelled cholesterol. These transfers were calculated from this model as K₁ (uptake) and K₂ (release). These two values can be represented by B=K₁–K₂ where B is the change in cholesterol mass in the sponge tissue during the experimental period.

K₁ and K₂ flux values were obtained in two different experiments on the rat. The first experiment involved individual implants in 5 animals; whilst the second depended on implanting 7 rats with 4 implants each. The values K₁ and K₂ obtained in these two experiments were almost the same. Thus, cholesterol transfer could be measured and the ability of connective tissue to metabolize lipoprotein could be evaluated.

Previously we have shown correlations between the turnover rate of lipid in the aorta and sponge tissue; this emphasizes the importance of the connective tissue in the arterial wall. It is now possible to apply the present experimental model to investigate the local intra-arterial factors that operate in atherosclerosis.