Quantitative morphological investigations on smooth muscle cells in vascular surgical specimens and their clinical importance.

A distinct distribution of activated SMC could be demonstrated in atherosclerotic plaques and the neighbouring media of human beings. An increased proliferation was found in the younger age group and generally in the marginal regions of the plaques. The occurrence of activated SMC is thought to be a sequel of metabolic hypoxic damages. A high frequency of activated SMC is a bad prognostic sign in surgical specimens indicating a tendency for proliferation and occlusion.