Postlathyric fibroelastosis of the rat aorta related to topical factors of experimental atherosclerosis.
Postlathyric aortic fibroelastosis was produced in rats with the aid of low-percentage fetal lathyrism. Subsequently the rats were kept on an atherogenic regimen for one year, and at the end of that period the aortas were studied to detect the relation of postlathyric alterations to the experimental atherosclerotic lesions. In the ascending aorta and the arch the fibroelastosis neither enhanced nor suppressed the development of mixed atherosclerotic plaques. In contrast, fibroelastosis of the thoracic and abdominal aorta usually causing a slight tunnel-shaped stenosis of the affected segment significantly reduced the development of intimal lipoidosis. The present experiment permitted to identify a new postlathyric lesion, namely sac-shaped microaneurysms situated at the sites of origin of lumbar arteries. Despite the fact that otherwise virtually the only lesion developing in the abdominal aorta was intimal lipoidosis, the aneurysms were filled up with mixed atheromatous masses. The above postlathyric vascular lesion appeared to significantly support the local development of atherosclerosis. The results presented have been discussed in view of the some recent facts stressing the indisputable importance of haemodynamic factors for the localization and development of atherosclerosis.
D000818:Animals; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D004036:Diet, Atherogenic; D005260:Female; D007842:Lathyrism / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats