[Ultrastructural characteristics of collagen formation by the smooth muscle cells of the aorta in rabbits with experimental atherosclerosis].

The development of experimental atherosclerosis in rabbits is accompanied by infiltration into the aorta intima of low density lipoproteins and marked proliferation of smooth muscle cells. The activated smooth muscle cells take part in desmoplastic reactions being the main source of collagen synthesized in atherosclerotic plaques. Outgrowth of the connective tissue in the zone of the elastic membrane fenestration leads to disturbance of the outflow of plasma components and causes edema of the intima. It is assumed that an atherosclerotically altered vascular wall may synthesize collagen with abnormal antigenic structure acquiring autoantigenic properties.