Selective removal of cholesterol esters in an arteriosclerotic region of blood vessels with a free-electron laser.
OBJECTIVE
In advanced atheromatous atherosclerosis, a large amount of lipids, particularly cholesterol esters, accumulates on the arterial wall. The selective removal of cholesterol esters accumulated in the intracellular or extracellular spaces has clinical significance. In the present work, the authors investigated the removal of cholesterol esters by using a free-electron laser (FEL) in an arteriosclerotic region.


METHODS
Thin films of cholesteryl oleate and albumin and the cross section of a rabbit artery were placed on an inverted microscope stage, and the changes caused by the FEL irradiation of 5.75 microm and 6.1 microm, with 1.5-3 mW on average, were monitored continuously by using a CCD camera in real time.


CONCLUSIONS
FEL irradiation at a wavelength of 5.75 microm, which is a stretching vibrational mode of the ester, was able to ablate cholesterol esters without affecting albumin. It can also remove cholesterol esters from rabbit arteriosclerotic arterial walls.
Awazu
K
K
Advanced Materials Group, Free-Electron Laser Research Institute, Hirakata, Osaka, Japan.
Nagai
A
A
Aizawa
K
K
D000418:Albumins / Q000032:analysis / Q000528:radiation effects; D000818:Animals; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery*; D002788:Cholesterol Esters / Q000032:analysis / Q000528:radiation effects*; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D011817:Rabbits; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
D000418:Albumins; D002788:Cholesterol Esters; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary