In vitro Calcification of Rat Aorta in Serum

ALTHOUGH hydroxyapatite has been identified as a major component of aortic plaques1, the events leading to its deposition in this tissue are little understood. Recently, we have found that substantial quantities of calcium and phosphate are deposited on to rat aortas during the incubation of this tissue in serum. This finding has provided a useful system for the study of aortic calcification in vitro.