Abstract
A series of 203 specimens of human aorta was investigated by three different procedures of detecting and quantitatively determining sclerotic lesions, i. e. examination of the pathological findings of intima by point counting method, measurement of the medial elastin content by the MSP procedure and measurement of the mechanical properties of the wall by the pulse wave velocity, in order to assess the interrelationship between the ageing-related trend and individual characteristics of the various factors, and between the pathological changes of the aortic intima, media and elastic properties of the wall. (MSP: Microspectrophotometry)
1. In subjects below 40 years of age neither the tunica intima nor the tunica media was observed to show any noticeably sclerotic changes. Nor were there any significant individual variations.
2. Demonstrable sclerotic changes of these layers of the aorta were noted to appear and progress, in keeping with advancing age, in those over 40 years of age. Individual variations of the progress of those changes were prominent.
3. There was evidence of diminution of medial elastin content, proceeding the development of atheromatous plaques in the intima.
4. The degree of intimal and medial sclerotic changes was noted to be remarkably correlated with the pulse wave velocity.
