Radioautographic study of aortic plaque formation.

Radioautographic evidence using CaCl2 is presented to demonstrate that the aorta has an inherent ability to bind calcium ion regardless of age, sex or species. The binding occurs primarily in the intima and is not homogeneously distributed. Experiments with boiled aorta suggest that the primary substance responsible is collagen. The binding of calcium by the aorta has a marked effect upon the stability of emulsions. A theory of arterial plaque formation is presented.