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Updated: Aug 29, 2025
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Published on: July 14, 2021
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Remodeling of the aortic wall layers with ageing
Mirela Albu1, Doru Adrian Şeicaru, Răzvan Mihail Pleşea
1Departments of Pathology, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, and Fundeni Clinical Institute, Bucharest, Romania; emil.plesea@umfcd.ro.
Summary
Aortic wall layers change thickness with age and location. The intima thickens, while the media thins from base to abdomen but thickens with age, showing distinct patterns in men and women.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular research
- Histopathology
- Aging studies
Background:
- The aortic wall's morphological parameters are crucial for cardiovascular health.
- Understanding age-related changes in the aorta is vital for identifying disease risks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between aortic wall intima and media thickness variations and aging.
- To analyze how these morphological changes differ across various aortic regions and demographics.
Main Methods:
- Histopathological analysis of aortic cross-sections from 90 autopsied cases.
- Staining with Orcein and Goldner's trichrome for detailed tissue visualization.
- Quantitative measurement of intima and media thickness using virtual slides and custom MATLAB software.
Main Results:
- The intima consistently thickened along the aorta (base to abdomen) and with increasing age.
- The media exhibited a thinning trend from the aortic base to the abdominal region.
- Media thickness increased with age, presenting a divergent profile compared to its topographical variation.
Conclusions:
- Aortic wall layers (intima and media) display dynamic evolutionary profiles influenced by age, gender, and topography.
- These findings highlight the complex, individualized nature of aortic aging.
- Further detailed and standardized research is recommended to fully elucidate these processes.
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