Microassay of cyclic nucleotides in vessel wall

The levels of cyclic adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) in the aortic intima and media of man and other species were measured microbiochemically by Lowry's quantitative histochemical technique and Gilman's competitive protein binding assay. Rather high levels of cAMP were found in the intima of all species examined as compared with that in the media. The role of cAMP in intima is discussed in relation to atherogenesis.