Collagen formation by transformed smooth muscle cells after arterial injury.
Twenty-five normocholesterolemic rabbits were sacrificed at intervals up to 60 days after the thoracic aortas were de-endothelialized. Ultrastructural studies of both the re-endothelialized and nonendothelialized intima were done. The smooth muscle cells in the re-endothelialized intima showed segmental structural changes typically associated with transformation to a secretory cell type; abundant accumulations of collagen were in juxtaposition with these cells. The nonendothelialized intima did not demonstrate similar smooth muscle cell changes and collagen accumulation. These observations suggest that regenerating endothelial cells and intimal smooth muscle cells interact to cause smooth muscle cell transformation and collagen accumulation during arterial repair.
D000818:Animals; D001158:Arteries / Q000293:injuries* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism*; D004727:Endothelium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011817:Rabbits; D013997:Time Factors
D003094:Collagen