The Endothelial Cell Damages of Pre-atheromatous and Atheromatous Lesions Observed by Scanning Electron Microscope

Abstract

In animals received 2 weeks of cholesterol feeding there was no grossly visible lesion, but by scanning electron microscope there was found a swelling of endothelial cells and swollen, splitted, and degenerated intercellular bridges and in the well-known predisposed parts of the aorta to atherosclerosis, there was found spotty areas in which almost all intercellular bridges of endothelial surface were destroyed and the endothelial surfaces were highly deformed. In animals received 15 weeks of cholesterol feeding the endothelial cells showed further changes and the endothelial surface covering atheroma showed a balloon-like expansion and their intercellular bridges were almost disappeared. Such injuries of endothelial cells may undoubtedly lose its physiologically controlled transendothelial transport leading to formation and progression of atheromatous lesions.