title: Heterogeneity of atherosclerosis in mesenteric arteries and outgrowth remodeling.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In patients with acute mesenteric ischemia by occlusive thrombo-embolism, the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) is more affected than the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA).
  
  
  METHODS
  This study investigated postmortem mesenteric arteries from aged subjects (n=21). Four atherosclerotic stages were defined by signs of degeneration and inflammation in sections stained with Elastica-van-Gieson and immunohistology, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In females and males, Stages 3 and 4 were found in 62% of the SMA and 24% of the IMA. Lumenal areas based on diameter measurements remained essentially unchanged between Stages 1 and 4. Compared to a Stage 1 reference, remodeling was associated with thinning of the media below the plaque base and with pronounced thickening below the shoulder in the IMA. In Stages 3 and 4, the adventitia of the IMA had more vasa vasorum and a higher number of CD45-positive leukocytes than the adventitia of the SMA. During atherosclerotic progression, a stable fraction of leukocytes represented mast cells (6%) and CD117-positive cells as potential progenitor cells (1%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Outgrowth remodeling occurred in both the SMA and the IMA. Less severe atherosclerosis in the IMA than in the SMA was associated with stronger signs of inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Anatomy, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Siegfried
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schnee
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sass
authors.forename: Hubertus
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Moellmer
authors.forename: Rudolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hohenfellner
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Spanel-Borowski
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D001344:Autopsy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007249:Inflammation / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000032:analysis; D007511:Ischemia / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D017537:Mesenteric Artery, Inferior / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D017538:Mesenteric Artery, Superior / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D008641:Mesenteric Vascular Occlusion / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013194:Staining and Labeling
chemical_list: D018836:Inflammation Mediators