Warren B A, Vales O
Br J Exp Pathol. 1976 Feb;57(1):67-77.
Scanning electron microscopy of atheromatous material revealed flat rhombic cholesterol crystals piled one upon the other. The fate of cholesterol crystals in the atheromatous material was followed after injection intra-arterially into the left renal arteries and left common carotid arteries of rabbits. The lipid and membranous component of the atheromatous material disappeared from the lumen of the vessels in 2-3 days after injection. Macrophages engulfed small cholesterol crystals and exposed surfaces attracted a layer of platelets. Larger cholesterol crystals evoked a giant cell response while within the lumen. Some cholesterol crystals penetrated the vessel walls or were included in the vessel wall reaction and induced a covering of endothelial cells sequestrating them from the lumen. The cholesterol crystals contained in some of the macrophages showed fracture lines and in some instances there were associated myelin figures. Large cholesterol crystals eventually elicited a fibroblastic response from the vessel wall (at about 1-4 weeks after injection) which could give rise to partial or almost complete occlusion of the vessel lumen.
动脉粥样硬化物质的扫描电子显微镜检查显示扁平菱形胆固醇结晶层层堆叠。将动脉粥样硬化物质经动脉内注射到兔的左肾动脉和左颈总动脉后，观察了动脉粥样硬化物质中胆固醇结晶的转归。注射后2至3天，动脉粥样硬化物质的脂质和膜成分从血管腔内消失。巨噬细胞吞噬小的胆固醇结晶，暴露的表面吸引一层血小板。较大的胆固醇结晶在血管腔内引发巨细胞反应。一些胆固醇结晶穿透血管壁或被纳入血管壁反应中，并诱导内皮细胞覆盖，将它们与管腔隔离。一些巨噬细胞内所含的胆固醇结晶显示出断裂线，在某些情况下还伴有髓鞘样结构。大的胆固醇结晶最终引发血管壁的成纤维细胞反应（注射后约1至4周），这可能导致血管腔部分或几乎完全闭塞。
