Changes in glycolytic enzyme activities and cyclic nucleotide levels of cultured bovine vascular cells in hyperlipidemic media.

Abstract

Comparative studies on changes in glycolytic and hydrolytic enzyme activities and cyclic nucleotide contents in bovine vascular smooth muscle cells were carried out in an attempt to elucidate the metabolic changes which occur in vascular cells, under condition of hyperlipidemia. Decreased glycolytic enzymes and increased acid phosphatase activities were found in smooth muscle cells cultured with 5% hyperlipidemic LDL which contained many sudanophilic droplets in their cytoplasma. Statistically significant low levels of cAMP and high levels of cGMP were confirmed in these cells cultured in hyperlipidemic media, as compared with those in control cells. This data suggests that decrease in cyclic AMP content and glycolytic enzyme activities accelerates lipid phagocytosis and cell division, both important phenomena in the course of atherosclerosis.