Intimal Folds of the Rabbit Aorta

Abstract
This work describes the use of an impression compound Silgel 604 to obtain casts of the intimal surface of the rabbit aorta distended to either systolic or diastolic in vivo diameter. Other rabbit aortas were fixed by glutaraldehyde at in vivo distensions. Specimens from these aortas were examined by scanning electron microscopy. Longitudinal folds were found in all cases at both diastolic and systolic distensions. The possible functions of the folds are discussed.