The in vitro incorporation of [ 3H]thymidine into DNA and of 32P into phospholipids and rna in the aorta of rhesus monkeys during early atherogenesis

Abstract

We measured the in vitro incorporation of [ 3H]thymidine into the DNA of segments of abdominal aorta from Rhesus monkeys fed atherogenic diets containing either peanut oil or corn oil for 15, 30 and 60 days. In all groups the serum cholesterol was significantly elevated but no differences in the aortic DNA specific activities could be detected. The incorporation of 32P into phospholipids and RNA was measured in the abdominal, distal and proximal thoracic segments of aorta from monkeys fed atherogenic diets for 30 days. In all 3 aortic segments there was a similar pattern of incorporation of 32P into the different classes of phospholipids. Maximal specific activities were found in the phosphatidyl inositol fraction. Apart from a decreased incorporation of 32P into the phosphatidyl choline and RNA of the distal thoracic aorta of peanut oil fed animals, no consistent differences could be observed in the phospholipids and RNA specific activities from the aortic segments of the control animals and of the animals fed the atherogenic diets. The phospholipid and RNA specific activities of the abdominal aortas in all groups were significantly lower than those of the distal and proximal thoracic segments.