[Liquid cholesterol crystals, physical substrate of atheroma]

The study of the atheromatous arterial walls has been carried out on fresh specimens by frozen sections and polarization examination. Thus, it has been proven that the first deposits of cholesterol take place in the intima under the form of liquid crystals. These are very susceptible to temperature variations. They turn to liquid globules above 40 degree centigrad and partially reappear under the action of the cold.