Abstract
In an attempt to clarify the alteration of lipid metabolism in the aorta of diabetes, aortas from rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes were incubated in vitro with 14C-glucose and the incorporation of glucose into the lipid fractions was studied. Furthermore, triglyceride, diglyceride and monoglyceride content as well as the activities of lipase and monoglyceride hydrolase in the aorta of diabetic rats were measured. In diabetic rats, in which streptozotocin (80mg/kg) was given 4 days before sacrifice, the incorporation of glucose into the aortic triglyceride was significantly decreased when compared with the controls. Triglyceride and diglyceride content in the aorta of diabetic rats was significantly smaller than those of the controls. However, no difference in the monoglyceride content was found between these two groups. Although the aortic monoglyceride hydrolase activity was significantly decreased in the diabetic rats, there was no decrease in the lipase activity in these rats. These results suggest that the synthesis of triglyceride in the aorta is decreased in diabetic rats.
