[Elastin metabolic indices in various body allowances of vitamin K]

A study was made of the content of insoluble elastin in the tissues and of elastolytic activity of the blood serum at varying supply of the rat body with vitamin K. It was revealed that long-term (for 1 month) excess administration of vicasol (10 mg/kg) did not change elastin metabolism. In the course of the development of alimentary K-avitaminosis, blood elastolytic activity was first inhibited and then dramatically rose (by 93.4%). The latter finding was in a good agreement with a decrease in the level of insoluble elastin in the aorta wall and skin. After exposure of rats to pelentan, an antagonist of vitamin K, for 15-20 days the activity of the enzymes responsible for elastin breakdown was steadily inhibited. Nevertheless the skin elastin content decreased by 16.1%. It has been shown that the reduction of the elastin content in the connective tissue is not related to the changes in the diet. The evidence obtained attests to the involvement of vitamin K in elastin metabolism.