Presently, and in the past, the predominant investigative emphasis among research workers in arteriosclerosis has been on plasma and arterial lipids. Recent data from a number of laboratories suggest that arterial mesenchyme is of considerable importance in the pathogenesis and fate of arteriosclerotic lesions. The significance of some of these observations made it clear that there was need for intensified research on the connective tissue components of the arteriosclerotic lesion and that arteriosclerosis research workers could benefit from a more comprehensive view of the subject. Because of their experience in the field of arteriosclerosis and their interest in stimulating new directions for research on the lesion, the Committee on Coronary Artery Lesions and Myocardial Infarctions of the Council on Arteriosclerosis, American Heart Association, planned an International Workshop on Arterial Mesenchyme and Arteriosclerosis. The Workshop brought together scientists expert in connective tissue research and research on arteriosclerosis who presented the current status of knowledge in their areas of expertise. The Workshop was held April 2-3, 1973 at the Royal Orleans Hotel, New Orleans, Louisiana and was attended by more than 170 people. The twenty papers and discussions presented in this volume summarize the proceedings of the Workshop and represent a comprehensive review of the role of arterial mesenchyme in arteriosclerosis.

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Section I The Problem in Perspective.- Mesenchymal Involvement in Arteriosclerosis.- Morphology of Mesenchymal Elements of Normal Artery, Fatty Streaks, and Plaques.- Reaction Patterns of Intimal Mesenchyme to Injury, and Repair in Atherosclerosis.- Proliferation of Arterial Cells in Atherosclerosis.- Section II Lipid-Connective Tissue Interactions.- The Macromolecules of the Intercellular Matrix of the Arterial Wall: Collagen, Elastin, Proteoglycans, and Glycoproteins.- Acid Glycosaminoglycan, Collagen and Elastin Content of Normal Artery, Fatty Streaks and Plaques.- Mucopolysaccharide-Lipoprotein Complexes in Atherosclerotic Aorta.- Some Aspects of the Organization and Interaction of Connective Tissue Proteoglycans.- Age Related and Atherosclerotic Changes in Aortic Elastin.- Components of the Protein-Lipid Complex of Arterial Elastin: Their Role in the Retention of Lipid in Atherosclerotic Lesions.- Studies on the Conformation and Interactions of Elastin.- Section III Tissue Culture Application in Connective Tissue Research.- Tissue Culture Technology Applicable to Arterial Mesenchyme.- Studies of Primate Arterial Smooth Muscle Cells in Relation to Atherosclerosis.- Production of Mucopolysaccharides, Collagen and Elastin Tissue by Aortic Medial Explants.- Effects of Serum Lipoproteins on the Morphology, Growth, and Metabolism of Arterial Smooth Muscle Cells.- Section IV Pathologic Processes and Connective Tissue Interactions.- Thrombosis and Connective Tissue Interrelationships in Arteriosclerosis.- Immunological Properties of Connective Tissue and Smooth Muscle Cells.- Immunologic Injury and Atherosclerosis.- Enzymic vs Non-Enzymic Factors in the Deterioration of Connective Tissue.- Calcification Processes in Atherosclerosis.