[Fractionation of carbon isotopes in human atherosclerotic tissues].

A decrease in heavy carbon isotope 13C content has been detected in atherosclerotically-altered aortic tissues. An extent of the isotope shift is increased with the intensification of sclerotic process in different regions of the aorta and depends on the patient's age. To explain the observed effect of isotope 13C content decrease in the altered aortic tissues it was suggested that the rates of biochemical conversions become considerably higher in sclerotically-altered tissues.