ACTIVITY OF EXOGLYCOSIDASES IN THE ANEURYSMAL AORTIC-WALL

The mechanical properties of the arterial wall depend not only on coll agen and elastin, but also on proteoglycans. The quantity and quality of proteoglycans depend on the rate of their synthesis and degradation . Proteoglycans are degraded by exoglycosidases and proteases. In the wall of an aortic aneurysm, we found an increase in the activity of ex oglycosidases (beta-hexosaminidase, beta-galactosidase and alpha-manno sidase) in comparison with normal and atheromatous aortas, which may i ndicate a participation of exoglycosidases in decreasing the concentra tion of proteoglycans in an aneurysmatic arterial wall.