[Structure of aortic lipid spots in two ethnic groups of the Yakutsk population]

Histometric study of aortic lipid spots (LS) in males of both ethnic groups who died of incidental causes at the age of 20-39 showed a decrease of the lipid-containing smooth muscle cells number (SMC), an increase of the foam cell (FC) number and extracellular lipids, retraction of the non-lipid zone surface in LS in proportion with their thickening. LS on the aorta with fibrous plaques in both Yakuts and Russians are characterized by the accumulation of FC, extracellular lipids and by their trend to the thickening as compared to LS in the aorta without fibrous plaques. Thick aortic LS in Russians with a predominant accumulation of FC in the superficial and intermediate layers are the most probable precursors of the atherosclerotic plaque.