Morphological changes in the aorta of rabbits with chronic renal failure

The morphological changes in the thoracic aorta induced by chronic renal failure (CRF) were studied in female albino rabbits after seven weeks of CRF. The effect of three and eight months duration of CRF was studied in the proximal part of the abdominal aorta. Renal impairment was induced by electrocoagulation of part of the renal parenchyma of one kidney and subsequent contralateral nephrectomy two weeks later. In the media wavy elastic membranes were the first histological change observed. After long-term CRF necrosis and calcifications with thickening of the vessel wall became frequent and in some rabbits the aorta was changed grossly into a stiff calcified tube. In the intima focal thickenings were found with increasing frequency and severity with increasing duration of the renal insufficiency.