The role of smooth myocytes and proteoglycans in neoangiogenesis of atherosclerostic plaque

The aim of the study was a comparative morphological, histochemical, immunohistochemical analysis of atherosclerotic plaques to clarify the role of smooth myocytes, proteoglycans in neoangiogenesis. Fragments of arteries with signs of atherosclerosis (femoral, popliteal, external carotid) in 70 patients predominantly male over the age of 60 years. After cutting out fragments of arteries and fixing them in a buffered 10% formalin solution, the usual wiring, pouring into paraffin, a microtomy was performed followed by the coloring of histological preparations with hematoxylin-eosin, Masson, PAS with alcian blue. The immunohistochemical stage of the study included the color of the finished histological preparations using antibodies CD34, CD68, SMA by DAKO Bond of Denmark. In an atherosclerotic plaque, in addition to the phenomena of atheromatosis with accumulation of foamy macrophages in the intima, microcalcinosis of the media, layers stratification, parietal mixed thrombi, and a new formation of capillary vessels were noted. Around the zones of neoangiogenesis there was hyperplasia of smooth myocytes with pronounced expression of SMA, CD34 proteins in small vessels and cellular elements, infiltration by proteoglycans (glycosaminoglycans). The obtained data allow to consider that smoothmyocytes, proteoglycans play an important role in neoangiogenesis of atherosclerotic plaque.