Cardiovascular Studies on Copper-deficient Swine. Iv. Content and Solubility of the Aortic Elastin, Collagen, and Hexosamine.

When pigs are reared from birth on a milk diet deficient in copper they develop characteristic cardiovascular defects that usually terminate in rupture of the heart or major vessels at 3 to 4 months of age (1). These events are preceded by demonstrable reduction of tensile strength of the aortas (2). The aortic elastic tissue shows histological defects (l), and alterations of its mechanical properties have been demonstrated.1 A reduction in insoluble elastin residue and an increase in a sodium chloride-extractable macromolecular component of these aortas has been reported (4). This report concerns the relation of the extractable material to the major intercellular components of 6he aorta, viz. collagen, elastin, and ground substance.