In:
Arhiv za bioloske nauke, National Library of Serbia, Vol. 65, No. 4 ( 2013), p. 1271-1278
Abstract:
The aim of this study was to determine the ultrastructural characteristics of
cell populations and extracellular matrix components in the wall of ruptured
atherosclerotic abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). We analyzed 20 samples of
ruptured AAA. For orientation to the light microscopy, we used routine
histochemical techniques by standard procedures. For ultrastructural
analysis, we applied transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Our results have
shown that ruptured AAA is characterized by the remains of an advanced
atherosclerotic lesion in the intima followed by a complete absence of
endothelial cells, the disruption of basal membrane and disruption of
internal elastic lamina. On plaque margins as well as in the inner media we
observed smooth muscle cells (SMCs) that posses a euchromatic nucleus, a
well-developed granulated endoplasmic reticulum around the nucleus and
reduced myofilaments. The remains of the ruptured lipid core were acellular
in all samples; however, on the lateral sides of ruptured plaque we observed
a presence of two types of foam cells (FCs), spindle- and star-shaped.
Fusiform FCs possess a well-differentiated basal lamina, caveolae and
electron dense bodies, followed by a small number of lipid droplets in the
cytoplasm. Star-shaped FCs contain a large number of lipid droplets and do
not possess basal lamina. On the inner margins of the plaque, we observed a
large number of cells undergoing apoptosis and necrosis, extracellular lipid
droplets as well as a large number of lymphocytes. The media was thinned out
with disorganized elastic lamellas, while the adventitia exhibited leukocyte
infiltration. The presented results suggest that atherosclerotic plaque in
ruptured AAA contains vascular SMC synthetic phenotype and two different
types of FCs: some were derived from monocyte/macrophage lineage, while
others were derived from SMCs of synthetic phenotype. The striking plaque
hypocellularity was the result of apoptosis and necrosis of different cell
populations.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0354-4664
,
1821-4339
Language:
English
Publisher:
National Library of Serbia
Publication Date:
2013
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2380842-1
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