Cartilaginous Metaplasia of the Thoracic Aorta of Control Turkeys and Exacerbation by β-Aminopropionitrile 1

Abstract

Seventeen of sixty distal extremities of the thoracic aortas of 12-week-old control male turkeys and 37 of 40 distal extremities of the aortas of turkeys fed 0.07% β-aminopropionitrile (BAPN) from 4 to 12 weeks of age contained areas of cartilaginous metaplasia when examined by light microscopy. The cartilaginous areas were generally elongated and located in the subendothelium of control turkeys, but a roundish area of cartilage was occasionally evident in the deep media. The magnitude of chondroplasia was enhanced by feeding BAPN; the extensive lesion usually extended from the subendothelium to deep in the media. Regardless of treatment, chondrocytes were pleomorphic, contained vacuoles, and had cytoplasmic processes. The cells were separated by pools of proteoglycans and connective tissue. The ultrastructure of chondrocytes in the aortas of both treatment groups was typical of this cell type. They had undulations or projections of the cell membranes. The cisternae of endoplasmic reticulum were dilated and contained electron-translucent material which was similar to extracellular proteoglycans. Golgi apparatus, free ribosomes, mitochondria, glycogen granules, filaments, and a centriole also were present in the cytoplasm. The extracellular matrix, which included collagenous and elastic fibers and also delicate fibrils and interconnecting matrix granules, separated adjacent chondrocytes by spaces of varying size.