title: Cathepsin D activity of venous and polyester vascular grafts implanted in the abdominal aorta of the dog.
abstract: Autogenous veins and polyester prostheses were implanted in the abdominal aorta of dogs. The venous or polyester grafts were removed together with sections of the normal arteries and veins 1 month, 4 months, and 3 years after the operation. This material was then dissected into the intimal, medial, and adventitial layers, and homogenized after which their cathepsin D activity was determined. It was found that the cathepsin D activity was far higher in all the layers of the venous grafts, particularly in the polyester grafts, than in the corresponding layers of the normal arteries and veins.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000502:physiology*; D002403:Cathepsins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004285:Dogs; D008297:Male; D011091:Polyesters; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D014680:Veins / Q000637:transplantation*
chemical_list: D011091:Polyesters; D011506:Proteins; D002403:Cathepsins