IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL LOCALIZATION OF FIBRONECTIN IN AORTIC INTIMA OF RAT

The localization of fibronectin in the aortic intima from 2, 4 and 8 months old SHR were observed with immunoperoxidase technique. Acid polysaccharide stainings were consistently performed on the serial sections of the same specimen.In 2 months old rats, aortic intima showed normal structure arrangement. In such cases, fibronectin localized linearly in the basement membrane underlying epithelium. The intima from rats of over 4 months of age tended to thicken with fibrin-like and fibrous substances, and injury to epithelium was often observed. In these cases, reaction products appeared to be deposited from plasma fibronectin and by secretion of migrated cells from the media. Acid polysaccharides positive area was similar to the portions of fibronectin deposits. Some discussion was held on the pathogenesis of the primary stage of arteriosclerosis correlated with fibronectin mobilization.