Yonsei Med J.  1998 Oct;39(5):430-438. 10.3349/ymj.1998.39.5.430.

Surface features of human aortic atherosclerosis as seen with scanning electron microscopy

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada N6A 5Cl.
  • 2Department of Medicine, University Hospital London, Ontario, Canada N6A 5Cl.

Abstract

Using SEM, we have observed surface structures of atherosclerotic lesions of human aortas obtained from autopsies ranging from 59 to 84 years of age (5 males and 4 females). We have found four major interesting features on the lumenal surface of the aortas: 1) blood cells including leukocytes adhering to the endothelial surface, 2) a de-endothelialized surface showing both elastogenesis and elastolysis, 3) abundant cholesterol-ester crystals in extracellular spaces, and 4) cave-like structures possibly suggesting new capillarization in the thrombotic atherosclerotic plaques. We concluded that SEM has a great value in revealing more interesting surface structures if morphological studies are previously done in detail so that the characteristic shapes can be identified, and perhaps then meaningful interpretations can be made on the mechanism of human atherogenesis.

Keyword

Human aortas; atherosclerosis; elastolysis; elastogenesis; cholesterol crystals; angiogenesis

MeSH Terms

Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Aorta/ultrastructure*
Aortic Diseases/pathology*
Arteriosclerosis/pathology*
Human
Male
Microscopy, Electron, Scanning*
Middle Age
Full Text Links
  • YMJ
Actions
Cited
CITED
export Copy
Close
Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
Similar articles
Copyright © 2024 by Korean Association of Medical Journal Editors. All rights reserved.     E-mail: koreamed@kamje.or.kr