Goode T B, Davies P F, Reidy M A, Bowyer D E
Atherosclerosis. 1977 Jun;27(2):235-51. doi: 10.1016/0021-9150(77)90061-2.
The morphology of endothelial cells during the induction of atherosclerosis in the descending aortic arch of the hypercholesterol rabbit was studied in situ by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) following silver staining, fixation at physiological pressure, and air-drying of specimens- The earliest deviations from normal endothelial morphology were observed 3 weeks after starting to feed a semi-synthetic diet containing 20% beef fat and 0.2% cholesterol. These were (1) the occurrence of brightly silver stained (argyrophilic) cells, (2) areas of irregularly shaped cells which were often larger and more weakly stained than normal cells and (3) increased incidence of stigmata and stomata associated with the irregular cells. After 6 weeks of hypercholesterolaemia, similar changes were present in the endothelium, but were often also associated with sub-endothelial swelling. These represented the first atherosclerotic lesions. Following 12, 20 and 24 weeks of hypercholesterolaemia, larger raised macroscopic lesions were observed which were always endothelialized. Endothelial morphology and lesion topography suggested that early fatty streaks were composed of numerous focal swellings. In addition to the abnormal endothelial morphology noted at 6 weeks, endothelial cells overlying more advanced lesions became rounded in outline.
采用扫描电子显微镜（SEM），在银染、生理压力固定及标本风干后，对高胆固醇血症家兔降主动脉弓动脉粥样硬化诱导过程中的内皮细胞形态进行原位研究。在开始喂食含20%牛肉脂肪和0.2%胆固醇的半合成饮食3周后，观察到内皮形态最早出现偏离正常的情况。这些情况包括：（1）出现亮银染色（嗜银）细胞；（2）出现形状不规则的细胞区域，这些细胞通常比正常细胞更大且染色更浅；（3）与不规则细胞相关的小孔和气孔发生率增加。高胆固醇血症6周后，内皮中出现类似变化，但常伴有内皮下肿胀。这些代表了最初的动脉粥样硬化病变。高胆固醇血症12周、20周和24周后，观察到更大的隆起性宏观病变，这些病变总是有内皮覆盖。内皮形态和病变形态表明，早期脂肪条纹由众多局灶性肿胀组成。除了6周时 noted 的异常内皮形态外，覆盖更晚期病变的内皮细胞轮廓变得圆润。
