Aortal Mucopolysaccharide Changes After Epinephrine Administration in Rabbits

Aortal MPS35 specific activities were compared in separate groups of rabbits injected with epinephrine and with physiological saline for 5 days prior to administration of radio sulfate. Significantly increased aortal MPS35 specific activities were found in the epinephrine treated animals although the well documented, epinephrine induced aortic lesions were not observed due to the abbreviated period of epinephrine administration. These data demonstrate that epinephrine induces an alteration of aortal MPS metabolism that is independent of gross pathosis. Therefore, the data support the hypothesis that epinephrine induces a defect in the biochemical architecture of the arterial wall which renders it susceptible to degenerative change.