Comparative morphometric analysis of contents mononuclear cells in unstable and in stable atherosclerotic lesions

BACKGROUND: Recent research results indicate that inflammatory cellular responses can play a significant role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis in humans and experimental animals, with a predominance in infiltrates of lymphocytes and monocytes/macrophages that contribute to destructive processes in the vascular wall. However, no comparative, differentiated morphometric analysis of the content of mononuclear cells in unstable and stable atherosclerotic lesions has been carried out so far.

AIM: Carrying out comparative histological and morphometric examination of quantitative content of lymphocytes and macrophages in normal vascular wall, in lipid stain, in unstable and in stable atherosclerotic lesions.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study material was samples taken during 15 autopsies aged 56 to 71 years who died from acute cardiovascular failure of atherosclerotic etiology. A comparative histological and morphometric study of the content of mononuclear cells: lymphocytes and macrophages in normal areas of the vascular wall, in lipid stains, in unstable and stable atherosclerotic lesions was carried out — a total of 50 tissue samples stained with hematoxylin and eosin.

RESULTS: A sharp increase in the content of studied cells in intima, atheromatous nucleus and adventition in unstable atherosclerotic plaques was revealed. In normal areas of the vascular wall, in initial atherosclerotic lesions and in stable plaques, the number of macrophages and lymphocytes is small.

CONCLUSIONS: In general, the results obtained are well consistent with the literature and suggest in favor of the need for lymphocytes and macrophages to form immuno-inflammatory reactions in the formation of unstable atherosclerotic lesions in humans.