Endothelial succinate utilization in atherosclerotic rabbits

Endothelial cells from thoracic aortas of 80 pair-fed male, New Zealand White rabbits maintained on a Purina Rabbit Chow diet containing 0.5% cholesterol for 2, 4, 8 and 16 weeks were isolated by aortic lumenal trypsinization. Oxygen consumption was measured by adaptation of a Radiometer blood microsystem (BMS 3b) and standardized on the basis of cell protein. A biphasic response in endothelial oxygen consumption was obtained. Cells from the 2 week treated group had a 70% greater mean QO 2 than controls; those from the 4, 8, and 16 week treated groups showed decreases of 40%, 45%, and 35%, respectively. These data are compared to data derived from similar studies using intima-media preparations.