[Does arteriosclerotic calcinosis of vessel walls imitate osteogenesis? Pathomorphological studies of arteriosclerotic plaque].
OBJECTIVE
For it is supposed that calcification of arteriosclerotic plaques imitates osteogenesis, it was studied whether the morphology of different stages of calcification supports such an assumption.


METHODS
Investigations were performed on one operation specimen of a dissecting aneurysm of the aorta and five human autopsy aortas. From different arteriosclerotic plaques, paraffin sections without and after EDTA-decalcification were prepared. Light microscopic, scanning (SEM) and transmission electron microscopic (TEM) investigations as well as X-ray microanalysis were performed.


RESULTS
By light microscopy, it became obvious that the intensity of calcification of arteriosclerotic plaques is not reflected by the conventional H&E stain--the real amount of calcium-phosphorus deposits becomes only evident by using a special stain, such as the alizarin red S reaction. In the SEM, arteriosclerotic plaques with granular calcification were characterized by accumulations of isolated calcified globules often reflecting the structure of necrotic cells. TEM exhibited even accumulations of calcified bodies corresponding to the shape of cells; cell remnants were present in the neighborhood. X-ray microanalysis of the granules detected calcium and phosphorus and a relative high content of magnesium, reflecting the composition of calcospherites in granular media calcification (71). By SEM, solid calcifications exhibited associations of calcified bodies resembling those of the isolated granules in early calcification but with one stuck onto the other. X-ray microanalysis revealed that these deposits are characterized by high amounts of calcium and phosphorus and a minor component of magnesium in comparison to the isolated granules.


CONCLUSIONS
From the investigations it is concluded that calcification of arteriosclerotic plaques imitates the process of granular media calcification which is assumed as "dystrophic" calcification of fragments of necrotic cells. The hypothesis of a "regulated" calcification as it occurs in cartilage or bone cannot be supported for the development of the calcified plaques; however, it cannot be excluded that proteins that are associated with osteogenesis participate in the transition of calcification to ossification in the vessel wall.
Mohr
W
W
Abteilung Pathologie Universität Ulm Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081 Ulm, Germany.
Görz
E
E
D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000473:pathology*; D001011:Aorta / Q000473:pathology; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000473:pathology*; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000473:pathology*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000473:pathology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D004577:Electron Probe Microanalysis; D006801:Humans; D008274:Magnesium / Q000378:metabolism; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009999:Ossification, Heterotopic / Q000473:pathology*; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000378:metabolism; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000473:pathology
D010758:Phosphorus; D008274:Magnesium; D002118:Calcium