The ground substance of the arterial wall. Part 2. Electron-microscopic studies.

Electron microscopy of ruthenium red stained bovine aorta before and after chondroitinase digestion demonstrates proteoglycans on and between collagen fibrils. The collagen-associated proteoglycans include a proteoglycan previously purified from this tissue as demonstrated by immunocytochemistry and are extractable with high molar guanidine HC1. In loci rich in proteoglycans such as areas of turbulent flow in calves, more proteoglycan can be demonstrated morphologically, and these molecules also coat elastin.