Characterization of the aortic collagens in guinea pigs with chronic vitamin C deficiency.

Marginal vitamin C deficiency lasting 19 weeks caused hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia in guinea pigs. In the thoracic aorta of deficient animals a moderate decline of type I and an increase of type III collagen was observed. Both types of collagen isolated from deficient aortas proved to be slightly underhydroxylated.