Uremic arterial disease in rabbits with special reference to the coronary arteries.

In rabbits with chronic renal failure of 9 months' duration, the distribution and morphological characteristics of uremic arterial disease were investigated, with special reference to the coronary arteries. All major systemic arteries were affected, large vessels more severely than smaller ones, and within each artery the changes were most pronounced in the proximal part of the vessel. The intimal lesions consisted primarily of smooth muscle cells without calcification or lipid accumulation. A reduction of the lumen exceeding 50% of the normal cross sectional area was not seen and mural thrombosis was not encountered. In the media, degenerative changes with increased amounts of proteoglycans and calcifications were prominent, but foci of increased cellularity were also seen. There was no evidence of lipid accumulation in the media either. Similar changes were found in the coronary arteries, but coronary angiography revealed no irregularities or stenosis. The calcified medial degenerative changes and intimal cellular lesions without lipid accumulation in non-cholesterol-fed rabbits distinguish uremic arterial disease from atherosclerosis.