抄録
1) Digesting rate of aortic elastic fibers by elastase was approximately in proportion to unit of elastase reacted on deparaffinized 6μ thick histological sections.
2) Digesting rate in human serum was lower than that in physical saline solution.
3) Digesting rate varied in the depth of aortic walls: at first, the intima and the middle portion of the media, second, the inner portion of the media and at last, the outer portion of the media were dissolved successively.
4) Elastic fibers of infant aorta was more registant for elastase digestion than that of adult aorta.
5) No difference was detected in digestion of elastic fibers between in vicinity of atheroma and in the intact intima in this experimental design.
6) Elastic fibers in pseudoxanthoma elasticum still remained after elastic fibers in the intact area of the same section were completely digested by elastase.
7) In electron microscopy, peripheral, amorphous, moderately electron-dense material of elastic fibers was dissolved at first: then, central, homogenous, electron lucent region followed.
