Collagen species in various sized human arteries and their changes with intimal proliferation

The collagen types extracted from intermediate and small sized human arteries were investigated by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) after differential salt fractionation. Limited and repeated pepsin digestion was used to prepare collagen species. Type V, IV and VI collagens were extracted greater in the former relative to in the latter, whereas type I and III collagen were extracted until the last extract. Type I collagen comprised as the major collagen in the intima of various arteries as well as in venous tissue. Type III and V collagens were found to be less in small arteries than in the initial stage of atherosclerosis. Type VI collagen in the intermediate and small arteries was detected on SDS-PAGE.