Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 26, 2026

A Method to Study the Correlation Between Local Collagen Structure and Mechanical Properties of Atherosclerotic Plaque Fibrous Tissue
13:45

A Method to Study the Correlation Between Local Collagen Structure and Mechanical Properties of Atherosclerotic Plaque Fibrous Tissue

Published on: November 11, 2022

Collagen content contributes to arterial narrowing in human atherosclerotic plaques

J Eckstein1, A Mohamed

  • 1Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada.

Biomedical Sciences Instrumentation
|January 15, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Collagen deposition in human coronary arteries is uniform, with slightly more in females for the posterior intraventricular branch. This suggests collagen may be an early therapeutic target for atherosclerosis.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Biology
  • Pathology
  • Biomedical Engineering

Background:

  • Collagen is a key component of human atherosclerotic plaques.
  • The role of collagen deposition as a therapeutic target in atherosclerosis remains under-investigated.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate collagen deposition patterns in specific human coronary arteries.
  • To evaluate the potential of collagen deposition as an early therapeutic target for atherosclerosis.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of arterial samples from human cadavers.
  • Measurement of collagen deposition thickness in the left anterior descending (LAD) and posterior intraventricular (PIV) branches of coronary arteries.

Main Results:

  • Collagen deposition was found to be a uniform event in both LAD and PIV.
  • Mean collagen deposition thickness was 671.9 microm for LAD and 670.2 microm for PIV.
  • Collagen deposition in the PIV was observed to be slightly greater in females than in males.

Conclusions:

  • Collagen deposition patterns are consistent in LAD and PIV, suggesting a uniform biological process.
  • The observed differences in collagen deposition between sexes in the PIV warrant further investigation.
  • Collagen deposition presents a potential early therapeutic target for managing atherosclerosis, addressing the condition before later complications arise.

More Related Videos

Quantitative Analysis of Cellular Composition in Advanced Atherosclerotic Lesions of Smooth Muscle Cell Lineage-Tracing Mice09:06

Quantitative Analysis of Cellular Composition in Advanced Atherosclerotic Lesions of Smooth Muscle Cell Lineage-Tracing Mice

Published on: February 20, 2019

Assessing Collagen and Elastin Pressure-dependent Microarchitectures in Live, Human Resistance Arteries by Label-free Fluorescence Microscopy09:58

Assessing Collagen and Elastin Pressure-dependent Microarchitectures in Live, Human Resistance Arteries by Label-free Fluorescence Microscopy

Published on: April 9, 2018

Related Concept Videos

Atherosclerosis I: Introduction01:30

Atherosclerosis I: Introduction

Atherosclerosis is a progressive disorder characterized by the buildup of plaques on the arterial inner wall, causing them to narrow and harden over time. These plaques comprise lipids, calcium, blood components, carbohydrates, and fibrous tissue. The process primarily affects the intima of large and medium-sized arteries, reducing blood flow in any artery.Etiology and risk factorsThe cause of atherosclerosis is multifactorial, involving a complex interplay among endothelial injury, lipid...
Coronary Artery Disease II: Pathophysiology01:26

Coronary Artery Disease II: Pathophysiology

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) originates from a series of events that impair the function of coronary arteries, the blood vessels responsible for delivering oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle. The pathophysiology of CAD is closely linked to atherosclerosis, a chronic inflammatory and lipid-driven condition affecting the vascular endothelium.1. Endothelial DamageThe process begins with damage to the vascular endothelium, which serves as a protective barrier between the blood and the vessel...
Collagens are the Major Structural Proteins of ECM01:13

Collagens are the Major Structural Proteins of ECM

Three main types of fibers are secreted by fibroblasts: collagen fibers, elastic fibers, and reticular fibers. Collagen fiber is made from fibrous protein subunits linked together to form a long, straight fiber. Collagen fibers, while flexible, have great tensile strength, resist stretching, and give ligaments and tendons their characteristic resilience and strength. These fibers hold connective tissues together, even during the body's movement.
Connective tissue proper includes loose...
Peripheral Artery Disease I: Introduction01:30

Peripheral Artery Disease I: Introduction

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) predominantly results from atherosclerosis, which involves the accumulation of fatty deposits, or plaques, within the walls of arteries. This causes them to narrow and harden, significantly reducing blood flow. PAD predominantly affects the legs, particularly the arteries supplying the thighs and calves. In rare cases, it may involve other arteries, including those in the arms.Etiology of PAD:The principal cause of PAD is atherosclerosis, which results from fatty...
Fibril-associated Collagen01:11

Fibril-associated Collagen

Fibril-associated collagens are a type of collagens present in the extracellular matrix with interrupted triple helices or FACIT (Fibril-associated collagens interrupted triple-helices). FACIT help connect and attach the collagen fibrils with each other as well as with other proteins of the extracellular matrix.
For example, the type II collagen fibrils in cartilage have covalently bound type IX fibril-associated collagens at regular intervals. Other types of fibril-associated collagens are...
Atherosclerosis II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Tests01:27

Atherosclerosis II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Tests

Atherosclerosis is a progressive disorder that leads to the thickening and narrowing of arterial walls due to plaque buildup. This condition can cause various symptoms depending on the arteries affected:Coronary Artery Disease (CAD): This condition affects the coronary arteries and may lead to chest pain (angina), shortness of breath (dyspnea), heart attacks, and other heart disease symptoms.Cerebrovascular Disease: This affects blood flow to the brain, causing transient ischemic attacks (TIAs)...