Uptake and Esterification of Exogenous Cholesterol by Organ Cultures of Normal and Atherosclerotic Pigeon Aorta 1

Summary

An organ culture system is described in which segments of pigeon aorta have been maintained in a metabolically active state for up to 9 days. Using this system, we have studied the uptake and metabolism of cholesterol-1,2-³H and oleic acid-1-¹⁴C by normal and atherosclerotic arterial tissue.

The uptake of cholesterol-1,2-³H by arterial tissue was rapid and was similar in both boiled and viable arterial segments. Results suggest a physical chemical mechanism for uptake of free cholesterol. Arterial segments esterified oleic acid-1-¹⁴C to phospholipid, triglyceride, and cholesteryl ester. Cholesterol-1,2-³H was also esterified with a significantly increased rate of esterification seen in arterial segments from atherosclerotic aortas. Uptake of free cholesterol was not significantly different in normal and atherosclerotic arterial segments.