ENDOTHELIAL STRUCTURE IN RABBITS WITH MODERATE HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA - SCANNING ELECTRON-MICROSCOPIC STUDY

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 85  (5) , 671-682
Abstract
The aortic surface of rabbits given a supplement of 0.1-0.3% cholesterol to the diet was studied by scanning electron microscopy. In regions where increased hemodynamic strain was anticipated similar structural changes were observed in normal and hypercholesterolemic rabbits. Changes indicating cell injury were more wide-spread in cholesterol-fed animals. Hypercholesterolemia may increase cell susceptibility to injury. In the same regions the development of intimal thickenings was observed in cholesterol-fed rabbits. The central parts of such thickenings was re-endothelialized; a region with cell injury surrounded each lesion. In regions with low hemodynamic strain a loss of fine-structural details was observed in hypercholesterolemic rabbits. These changes may be related to the deteriorated functional properties of the intact endothelium in such rabbits. The interrelationship between hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerotic arterial disease may partly be due to a deleterious effect of hypercholesterolemia on the functional and structural integrity of the arterial endothelium.

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