Interest in the field of atherosclerosis research has broadened in recent years. However the main focus remains on the physiopathology of the arterial wall and on its interaction with blood constituents. The purpose of this NATO Advanced Study Institute on "Factors in Formation and Regression of the Atherosclerotic Plaque" was to discuss the following points: a) The physiopathology of the arterial wall; b) Animal models; c) Methods of studying the progression and regression of atherosclerotic lesions quantitatively; d) The role of lipoproteins, platelets, smoke, alcohol, etc. in the formation of atherosclerotic lesions; e) The pharmacological and dietary control of "risk factors." This volume is a collection of the most relevant presentations on these topics. We hope it will provide a background for young scientists as well as a stimulus for further research to biologists and clinicians. We wish to acknowledge the support of NATO and the Nutrition Foundation of Italy in organizing this Advanced Study Institute.

Inhalt

Physiology and Pathology of the Arterial Wall.- Morphology and Physiology of the Arterial Wall.- Metabolism of the Arterial Wall.- Aortic Lipid Metabolism.- From the Fatty Streak to the Calcified Lesion.- Progression and Regression of Advanced Atherosclerosis as Studied by Quantitative Methods.- Ultrasound Techniques in the Study of Carotid Artery Atheroma.- Animal Models.- Experimental Atherosclerosis: Diet and Drugs.- On the Selection of Animal Species as Models for Atherosclerosis Research, with Particular Reference to the Common Marmoset (Callithrix jacchus).- Lipoproteins and Atherosclerosis.- Smooth Muscle Metabolie Reactivity in Atherogenesis: LDL Metabolism and Response to Serum Mitogens Differ According to Phenotype.- Thermodynamics and Mechanism of the Association of Plasma Apolipoproteins with Synthetic Phosphatidylcholines.- Nondegradable Analog of Lipoprotein Cholesteryl Ester.- Interactions between Lipoproteins and Glycosaminoglycans.- Plasma Lipoprotein Changes Induced by Diets and Drugs.- Platelets and Atherosclerosis.- Endogenous Agents in Platelet Thrombosis.- Platelet and Vascular Prostaglandins in Uraemia, Thrombotic Microangiopathy and Pre-Eclampsia.- Pharmacological and Dietary Control of Platelet Vessel Wall Interactions in Normal and Pathological Conditions.- Other Factors in Progression and Regression.- Tobacco Smoking and Atherosclerosis.- Ethanol and Blood Lipids in Man.