Variations of brain enzymatic activities in experimental atherosclerosis

Rabbits under atherogenic diet for 40 days have an increase of the aortic cholesterol of over 100%. These rabbits show changes of membrane-bound ATPase rather than of cytoplasmic pyridoxal phosphokinase enzymes. In fact in the case of the membrane-bound enzyme such as the Mg 2+-dependant and Na +-, K +-stimulated ATPase, there is an increase in the activity of about 90%. In the case of cytoplasmic enzymes such as the pyridoxal phosphokinase, there is no significant variation of activity. The changes in enzymatic activity are correlated with the phospholipid fatty acids of the subcellular structures. The contemporary administration of brain cortex phospholipids partially prevents such variations.