Aernoud Fiolet

59 Viewing Atherosclerosis through a Crystal Lens Figure 3. Volume expansion of cholesterol during crystallization with crystals perforating the intima of human coronary and carotid arteries. (A) Cholesterol expanded above the edge of the test tube after crystallizing from a liquid. (B,C) SEMs from tube. (D,E,F) CCs perforating a fibrous membrane placed on mouth of the test tube (bar 5 = μm). (G,H,I,J,K) SEMs of left anterior descending coronary artery (middle) below the plaque rupture site. CCs are seen perforating the intimal surface. (L,M,N) Fresh carotid plaques were obtained directly from the operating room, kept at 37°C and examined at 37°C without any tissue processing demonstrated CCs perforating the intima comparable with the above scanning electron microscopy images where the tissue had vacuum dehydration. Bodipy C-12 (invitrogen), a green fluorescent dye with affinity to cholesterol was used to highlight the CCs. Modified with permission. 7,20, 65 . CCs, cholesterol crystals.