Metabolism of Atherosclerotic Tissue of Rabbit and Dog, with Special Reference to Esterase and Lipase.

• In contrast to the extensive literature dealing with the chemical changes in the circulating blood in atherosclerosis and the composition of the atheromatous plaques, there is relatively little information concerning the metabolic alterations of the arterial tissue associated with the development of atherosclerosis. In previous investigations from this laboratory on the metabolism of arterial tissue, both normal' and atherosclerotic, it was found that the various stages of the atherosclerotic process were accompanied by characteristic changes in the oxidative capacity of the succinic oxidase and cytochrome oxidase systems. In another series of experiments, the presence of esterase and the absence of lipase were demonstrated in the normal aortic tissue of man, rabbit, and dog. The present investigation deals with esterase and lipase activity in atherosclerotic tissue of rabbit and dog.