Repair of early cholesterol-induced aortic lesions in rabbits after withdrawal from short-term atherogenic diet. Scanning electron-microscopical (SEM) and transmission electron-microscopical (TEM) observations.

Signs of repair of early atherosclerotic lesions after withdrawal of rabbits from a short-term atherogenic diet have been observed by means of scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The endothelial lining was lacking over large portions of the plaques during early atherogenesis. During the regression phase, hematic cholesterol values returned to normal, the smooth muscle cells of the plaques lost a large part of the lipids they had accumulated, while the surface of the plaques was covered by a continuous layer of endothelial cells.