Aortic lysosomal hydrolases and pathological alterations in hypertensive and/or atherogenic diet fed rhesus monkeys.

Aortic lysosomal enzyme activities have been evaluated in relation to the extent and severity of aortic atherosclerosis in rhesus monkeys to see the biochemical and pathological effects of renal hypertension in experimental atherogenesis. The frequency and size of atherosclerotic plaques in aortas of atherogenic diet fed and/or hypertensive monkeys were calculated and an overall score of aortic atherosclerosis was computed on the basis of the gamut of pathological findings in relation to the biochemical alterations. This overall score of atherosclerosis was found to be significantly (p less than 0.01) greater in animals of all experimental groups as compared to the controls.