Inherited depression of arterial lipoamide dehydrogenase activity associated with susceptibility to atherosclerosis in pigeons.

The activity of lipoamide dehydorgenase (E.C.1.6.4.3) was measured in arterial homogenates from very young pigeons (5-8 weeks old) known to differ in their susceptibility to atherosclerosis. The activity of the arterial enzyme was significantly lower in the atherosclerosis-susceptible White Carneau pigeons than it was in the atherosclerosis-resistant Show Racer pigeons. Lipoamide dehydrogenase is a component of the pyruvate dehydrogenase and alpha-ketoglutarate multienzyme complexes. The first complex catalyzes the conversion of pyruvate to oxaloacetate via acetyl-CoA, and this reaction represents a crucial link between glycolysis and the Krebs cycle. The second complex is essential for the oxidative breakdown of carbohydrates, fats, and amino acids via the Krebs cycle. Reduced activity of these complexes, resulting from low activity of lipoamide dehydrogenase, favors reduction of pyruvate to lactate and a shift to glycolysis. This situation is in accord with other results obtained in avian and human arteries which appear to indicate a higher rate of glycolysis in atherosclerosis-susceptible and atherosclerotic arteries. It appears that the increased dependence of the White Carneau arteries on glycolysis, suggested by the reduced lipoamide dehydrogenase activity, facilitates the development of atherosclerosis in this pigeon strain.