RELATIONSHIP OF CHOLESTEROL AND CALCIUM DEPOSITION IN ATHEROSCLEROSIS

胆固醇和钙，后者以羟基磷灰石的形式存在 积聚在动脉粥样硬化性病变中。我们已经证明了这些 病变的有机和无机成分可以累积在一起， 在复合晶体中紧密结合的。使用荧光灯 胆固醇探针，非脂蛋白，我们鉴定出未酯化的胆固醇 与组织中的钙(即羟基磷灰石)颗粒有关 皮损切片和皮损中分离出的钙颗粒。我们 也显示了菲利普林染色表明，胆固醇与 体外预制羟基磷灰石晶体。扫描电子 显微镜结合能量色散X射线分析证实 许多胆固醇小微晶的物理缔合 较大的羟基磷灰石晶体。我们的结果支持这样的假设 这是因为它的晶体结构很相似 羟基磷灰石和胆固醇，任何一种的微晶都可以作为 另一方的成长则无一幸免。我们的研究表明，这或一种 相关的过程发生在动脉粥样硬化病变内。达到的程度 这一过程有助于胆固醇和钙的沉积 在动脉粥样硬化病变中的作用仍有待确定。

Cholesterol and calcium, the latter in the form of hydroxyapatite, accumulate in atherosclerotic lesions. We have demonstrated that these organic and inorganic constituents of lesions can accumulate together, closely associated in composite crystals. Using the fluorescent cholesterol probe, filipin, we identified unesterified cholesterol that was associated with calcium (i.e., hydroxyapatite) granules in tissue sections of lesions and with calcium granules isolated from lesions. We also have shown with filipin staining that cholesterol can associate with pre-formed hydroxyapatite crystals, in vitro. Scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray analysis confirmed the physical association of many small crystallites of cholesterol with larger crystals of hydroxyapatite. Our results support the hypothesis of Craven that because of the similarities in crystal structure of hydroxyapatite and cholesterol, a microcrystal of either may serve as a nidus for the growth of the other. Our studies suggest that this or a related process occurs within atherosclerotic lesions. The extent to which this process contributes to cholesterol and calcium deposition within atherosclerotic lesions remains to be determined.