Endothelial cell coat modifications in rat thoracic aorta. Effect of ovariectomy and cigarette smoke

The effects of acute cigarette smoking and bilateral ovariectomy on the thickness of rat aortic cell coat (Con A) were investigated. Ovariectomized rats showed a significant increase in the thickness of the cell coat. When cigarette smoking was combined with ovariectomy the thickness of the reaction product was similar to controls. Cigarette smoke without ovariectomy resulted in a decreased thickness, but these changes were not significant.