NUCLEAR MICROPROBE APPLIED TO THE STUDY OF CORONARY-ARTERY WALLS - A DISTINCT LOOK AT ATHEROGENESIS

The Nuclear Microprobe technique was employed to investigate the eleme ntal concentration alterations due to atherosclerosis, of minor and tr ace elements at the different cellular layers acid structures of freez e-dried cryosections of human coronary arteries. Nuclear Microprobe an alyses enable to determine 7 elements, i.e., P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Fe and Z n in the artery walls. Early modifications of the vessels, due to the atherosclerosis progression, that cannot be detected with specific sta ining or conventional histological methods could be detected. These mo difications comprise the disruption of elastic laminae and are apparen tly related to abnormal Fe and Zn depositions in the intimal region an d surroundings of the elastic laminae. Later on, the calcification of these regions occur, contributing to an irreversible damage of the ela stic laminae and leading to the atheroma growing and maturation. Moreo ver, the Fe and Zn content alterations and distribution in the vessel wall can characterize stages of the disease.