Abstract
Summary
The oxidative capacity of succinic oxidase and cytochrome oxidase systems in 3 aortic segments (ascending and arch, descending thoracic, abdominal), inferior vena cava and liver slices of man, rabbit and dog was studied. A species difference was found to exist: a) man exhibited the lowest oxidative values for both systems; b) the dog, the highest values for the succinic oxidase system in the thoracic aorta; c) the rabbit, intermediate values for the succinic oxidase system in all 3 aortic segments; d) oxidative values for the cytochrome oxidase system were of approximately equal magnitude in the aortic tissue of dog and rabbit. A significant decrease in oxidative capacity of aortic tissue was associated with aging in man, while the vena cava and liver remained unaffected. No appreciable change with age was found in rabbit and dog.
The significance of the above findings in relation to atherogenesis was discussed.
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