Collagen dysplasia and matrix vesicles. Researches with the electron microscope into the problem of so-called "weakness of the vessel wall".

Quite diverse pathological changes of the wall of a blood-vessel can lead to quantitatively and qualitatively altered collagen, as well as to the production of matrix vesicles. It can be demonstrated morphologically that changes--particularly qualitative changes--in collagen are accompanied by a more or less severe loss of function. Possible causal connections between the appearance simultaneously of matrix vesicles (in which lysosomal enzymes can be demonstrated) and altered vascular collagen are discussed.