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Early mitochondrial calcifications in the rabbit aorta after adrenaline

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Summary

Sequential fine structural changes were assessed in the aortic media of rabbits shortly after the intravenous injection of a massive single dose of adrenaline. Slight changes first appeared at 1 hour and by 6 hours marked changes were present which included accumulation of Alcian-stainable material in the intercellular spaces and alterations in mitochondria of smooth muscle cells. The mitochondria were swollen and showed decreased matrix density together with the presence of electron dense microcrystalline inclusions. Electron diffraction studies showed that these inclusions were composed by apatite-like crystals. The mechanism(s) involved and the possible pathological role of the mitochondrial calcification are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Pathological Anatomy II, University of Rome, Rome, Italy

    C. Cavallero, L. G. Spagnoli & U. Di Tondo

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  1. C. Cavallero
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  2. L. G. Spagnoli
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  3. U. Di Tondo
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Additional information

The work was carried out with the aid of a grant from the Italian Research Council (C.N.R. Roma, N. 71.0017004-115-1139).

We are grateful to Drs. N. Pericoli and L. Filosto for their aid in performing the experiments and to Mrs. L. Venturi, Mr. M. Macchiolo and Mr. A. Mancuso for their excellent technical assistance.

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Cavallero, C., Spagnoli, L.G. & Di Tondo, U. Early mitochondrial calcifications in the rabbit aorta after adrenaline. Virchows Arch. A Path. Anat. and Histol. 362, 23–39 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00433772

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