CHARACTERIZATION OF LIPID-LADEN AORTIC CELLS FROM CHOLESTEROL-FED RABBITS .1. RESOLUTION OF AORTIC CELL-POPULATIONS BY METRIZAMIDE DENSITY GRADIENT CENTRIFUGATION

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 37  (3) , 287-296
Abstract
Enzymatically isolated aortic cells from control and cholesterol-fed rabbits were subjected to isopycnic density gradient centrifugation in metrizamide. Control cells formed a single band equilibrating at a median density of 1.13-1.14, while cells isolated from atheromatous aortas formed 2 distinct bands, one equilibrating in the density range of 1.12-1.14 and the other occurring at a lower density of 1.03-1.07. The low density cells exhibited typical features of aortic foam cells. They were found to be greatly enriched in free and esterified cholesterol and in 4 lysosomal hydrolases and contained lipid-laden lysosomes. High density cells from cholesterol-fed rabbits were enriched in cholesterol and lysosomal enzymes compared to control aortic cells but not to the extent shown by low density foam cells. While exhibiting ultrastructural characteristics of smooth muscle cells, cells in this fraction showed a considerable degree of morphologic and biochemical heterogeneity, suggesting the occurrence of many transition forms between normal smooth muscle cells and fully transformed foam cells.

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