Effect of hypertension on the in vitro incorporation of [1-14C]-oleate into phospholipid and cholesterol ester in the aortae of normal-fed and cholesterol-fed rabbits.

The effect of prior hypertension on the in vitro incorporation of [1-14C]-oleate into phospholipid and cholesterol ester in aortae from cholesterol-fed and normal fed rabbits was studied. Incorporation of [1-14C]-oleate into phospholipid was not increased in aortae from either hypertensive normal-fed or hypertensive cholesterol-fed rabbits when compared to the appropriate normotensive controls. In the normal-fed rabbits, incorporation of [1-14C]-oleate into cholesterol ester was increased by hypertension in all aortic regions. In cholesterol-fed rabbits cholesterol esterification was found to be proportional to the intimal cholesterol concentration, irrespective of the prior blood pressure or the particular aortic region studied. It is concluded that the increased lipid synthesis in atherosclerotic vessels from hypertensive rabbits is a consequence of the increased lipid accumulation produced by hypertension and not the result of hypertension directly stimulating arterial wall metabolism.