title: Collagen subtype pattern in normal and varicose saphenous veins in humans.
abstract: Our present study was to determine the collagen subtype pattern in the greater saphenous vein of the lower limb, obtained from 21 normal (macroscopically and ultrastructurally non-varicose vein segments from non-varicose subjects) and 37 varicose subjects, and to compare affected (macroscopically and ultrastructurally varicose segments from varicose veins) vs. non-affected (macroscopically and ultrastructurally non-varicose segments from varicose veins) segments (16). After elastase pretreatment and partial pepsin digestion, types I, III & V collagens (CI, CIII, CV) were extracted selectively by differential salt precipitation and measured quantitatively in samples obtained from normal and varicose saphenous veins-either affected or unaffected segments. Significant elevations of water (p < 0.05) and collagen type I [CI] (p < 0.01) content in varicose veins (both affected and unaffected segments) as compared with normal saphenous veins were observed. The collagen type III (CIII) and collagen type V (CV) content of varicose veins were found to be slightly reduced as compared to normal veins and consequently the CI/(CIII+CV) ratio in varicose veins increased significantly (p < 0.02) as compared to normal veins. Elevation of the CI/(CIII+CV) ratio in varicose veins may cause considerable weakening of the venous wall, further supporting the "weak wall" theory of varicose vein etiology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Waksman
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mashiah
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hod
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Friedman
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003094:Collagen / Q000032:analysis* / Q000145:classification* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D015180:Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007424:Intracellular Fluid; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000473:pathology* / Q000637:transplantation; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D003094:Collagen