Electron Microscopic Observation of Lipid Droplets in Foam Cells of WHHL Rabbit Atheromatous Aorta

-Using Quick-Freezing Method-

Abstract

Rapidly-frozen, etched replica of atheromatous aorta of WHHL rabbit was examined. In foam cells, lipid droplets were seen in two sites; membrane-bounded droplets in lysosomes and cytoplasmic droplets without membranes surrounded by 10nm filaments. The latter droplets, which were frequently observed, showed concentric lamellar structure like an onion and may correspond to cholesterol ester-rich lipid inclusion isolated by
Lang& Insull (J. Clin. Invest. 1970) and us (Takano, T. et al. Biochem. Int. 1982).