UVM Theses and Dissertations
Format:
Print
Author:
Fonseca, Cindy L.
Dept./Program:
Pathology
Year:
2012
Degree:
MS
Abstract:
Venous Thrombosis is an age-associated disease that affects approximately 600,000 people in the United States today (Services 2008). We hypothesized that structural remodeling associated with advancing age occurs in human saphenous veins, specifically intimal thickening, increased cellularity and increased collagen. In order to address this hypothesis we have quantitatively identified structural remodeling in human saphenous veins by applying stereological principles, histochemistry and fluorescence staining to specifically assess intimal area, intimal cellularity and intimal collagen content and organization.
Saphenous veins were collected from patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Area measurements and cellularity were quantified using the stereological software Stereo Investigator, employing planimetry and the Fractionator principle, respectively. Collagen content and organization were quantified in MetaMorph image analysis software based on measurements of color pixels in polarized light images.
Investigation of intimal area and cellularity showed no significant increases with age. In contrast, total collagen content showed a significant decrease with advancing age. Furthermore, collagen fiber types also demonstrated a statistically significant alteration with age; increases in age resulted in decreases in larger collagen fibers. No significant changes in small collagen fibers were identified. These results raise the possibility that age-associated structural alterations in total collagen content, specifically collagen fiber size could be a factor in the etiology ofvenous diseases such as venous thrombosis.
Saphenous veins were collected from patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Area measurements and cellularity were quantified using the stereological software Stereo Investigator, employing planimetry and the Fractionator principle, respectively. Collagen content and organization were quantified in MetaMorph image analysis software based on measurements of color pixels in polarized light images.
Investigation of intimal area and cellularity showed no significant increases with age. In contrast, total collagen content showed a significant decrease with advancing age. Furthermore, collagen fiber types also demonstrated a statistically significant alteration with age; increases in age resulted in decreases in larger collagen fibers. No significant changes in small collagen fibers were identified. These results raise the possibility that age-associated structural alterations in total collagen content, specifically collagen fiber size could be a factor in the etiology ofvenous diseases such as venous thrombosis.