[Cellular composition and biochemical characteristics of the human aorta]

Development of atherosclerotic lesions in the human aortic intima has been studied using morphological and biochemical methods. It is shown that the sublayers of the human aortic intima are involved in the atherosclerotic processes in different degree. Such manifestation of atherosclerosis as lipid and collagen take up and intimal thickness are especially connected with juxtluminal layer of the intima. Stellate cells (one of the 4 morphological types in the intima) are most closely correlated with these processes. The problems of the origin and possible role of the intima cells in the atherosclerosis are discussed.