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Thromb Haemost 1982; 48(02): 173-176
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1657250
Original Article
Schattauer GmbH Stuttgart

Effects of Cigarette Smoking on the Ultrastructure of Rat Thoracic Aorta and Its Ability to Produce Prostacyclin

R M Pittilo
The Departments of Histopathology and Haematology, The Middlesex Hospital Medical School, London, U. K.
,
I J Mackie
The Departments of Histopathology and Haematology, The Middlesex Hospital Medical School, London, U. K.
,
P M Rowles
The Departments of Histopathology and Haematology, The Middlesex Hospital Medical School, London, U. K.
,
S J Machin
The Departments of Histopathology and Haematology, The Middlesex Hospital Medical School, London, U. K.
,
N Woolf
The Departments of Histopathology and Haematology, The Middlesex Hospital Medical School, London, U. K.
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received 14 May 1982

Accepted 03 August 1982

Publication Date:
13 July 2018 (online)

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Summary

Following exposure of rats to graded doses of fresh cigarette smoke, the aortic endothelium examined by scanning electron microscopy regularly showed alterations. These essentially consisted of areas of blebbing and microvillus-like projections from the luminal surface, and the presence in the majority of cases, of micro-thrombi in the low shear areas just proximal to intercostal branches. Aortas from rats exposed to smoke showed a reduction in prostacyclin production in vitro and platelets from these animals aggregated more readily than did those of controls.

Keywords

Cigarette smoking - Endothelial ultrastructure - Prostacyclin - Platelet aggregation
 

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