Combined histochemical and histostereometric evaluation of the morphogenesis of human aortic atherosclerotic plaques

: Histochemical examinations of lipids, proteins and carbohydrates in aortal preparations from necropsy cases (54 males and 66 females) were combined with histostereometric examinations of the principal structural components of plaques. The lipid portion in the plaques was shown to decrease from 85.6 +/- +/- 4.9% in the stage of lipoidosis to 8.2 +/- 0.9% in the stage of ulceration. The portion of fibrous tissue is the highest in liposclerosis and atheromatosis of plaques (42.0 +/- 3.1 and 46.2 +/- +/- 1.2%, respectively) and that of necrotic and calcified tissues in the stage of ulceration (47.4 +/- 5.2 and 21.4 +/- 17%, respectively). Cellular infiltrations decrease markedly during plaque disintegration only. Such assessment is recommended for comparative studies in atherosclerosis.