Measurement of 125I-low density lipoprotein uptake in selected tissues of the squirrel monkey by quantitative autoradiography.

A recently developed technique of absolute quantitative light microscopic autoradiography of 125I-labeled proteins in biologic specimens was used to measure 125I-low density lipoprotein (125I-LDL) concentration levels in various tissues of the squirrel monkey after 30 minutes of in vivo LDL circulation. Liver and adrenal cortex exhibited high 125I-LDL concentrations, presumably because of binding to specific cell surface receptors and/or internalization in vascular beds with high permeability to LDL. High tissue concentrations of LDL were associated with the zona fasciculata and reticularis of the adrenal cortex and the interstitial cells of Leydig in the testis; significantly lower levels of 125I-LDL were observed in the adrenal medulla, the zona glomerulosa, and germinal centers of the testis. Contrary to previous reports, low 125I-LDL concentrations were observed throughout the gastrointestinal tract and in lymph nodes. In addition, multiple arterial intramural focal areas of high 125I-LDL concentrations were identified in arteries supplying the adrenal gland, lymph node, small bowel, and liver.