[Changes of protein metabolism in experimental atherosclerosis]

Effect of atherogenous diet (cholesterol, cholic acid and vitamin D2) on the state of collagen and elastin fibrilles as well as on content of proteins in rat blood serum, myocardium and aorta was studied by means of biochemical and histochemical methods. In sclerotic impairments the following phenomena occurred: a decrease in content of blood serum albumin, soluble tissue collagen and elastin and of insoluble elastin; an increase in content of globulins and haptoglobins in blood serum as well as of insoluble collagen in aorta and myocardium. The increase in content of insoluble collagen was accompanied by stimulation of growth of rough reticular and collagen fibrilles, deposition of calcium, fragmentation of the inner elastic membrane, by medionecrosis with deterioration of elastic tissue in aorta wall, in coronary arteria and in their intramural branches. These alterations in characteristics, properties and content of blood serum and tissue fibrillar proteins reflect only a part of complex processes involved in destruction of connective tissue under conditions of sclerosis.