Effect of Pancreatectomy, with and without Hypophysectomy, and of Insulin Treatment on the Composition of Canine Aorta

The chemical composition of aorta from normal and endocrine deficient dogs was studied in terms of collagen, elastin, calcium, “water plus lipid” and mucopolysaccharide (MPS) content. The latter component was resolved into four fractions: hyaluronic acid (HA), heparan sulfate (HS), dermatan sulfate (DS), and the isomeric chondroitin sulfates (CS). The results were compared in the following way: (1) normal versus pancreatectomized; (2) hypophysectomized versus hypophysectomized and pancreatectomized (Houssay); and (3) Houssay with and without insulin treatment. Pancreatectomy affected the content of two constituents only: the HS and CS levels were lowered. The low content could be raised by insulin treatment. These results indicate that except for the sulfated MPS, insulin does not appreciably alter the composition of the aortic wall.