In experiments on the
acid-base imbalance modelling (
acidosis induced with either
lactate or
ammonium chloride alcalosis induced with
sodium hydrocarbonate) in rats, there were studied
elastase activity, alpha-2-macroglobulin and alpha-1
proteinase inhibitor contents in blood serum and tissues of the aorta. The results obtained indicated that, in the models of both
acidosis and alcalosis an disbalance between
elastase and its inhibitors was observed. However, in NH4CL-acidosis in homogenates of aorta the inhibitors/
elastase coefficient decreased at the expense of a reduction in contents of alpha-2-macroglobulin, while in
lactate-
acidosis it only decreased at the expense of an increase in
elastase activity. In alcalosis, contents of
proteinase inhibitors were even increased, however a substantial increase in
elastase activity indicated a reduction in integrative coefficient. Similar changes were observed in blood serum, except
elastase activity was considerably elevated in NH4CL-acidosis and did not change in
lactate-
acidosis. Thus, an disbalance in the elastolytic system associated with different types of
acid-base imbalance can promote the destruction of elastic fibers of aorta, which is considered as one of initial mechanisms in pathogenesis of
arteriosclerosis.