Estimation of collagens types I and III in pepsin digests and by analysis of specific cyanogen-
bromide derived peptides by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, has indicated that
both the undiseased human aortic media and the atherosclerotic plaque of the diseased
intima contain more type I collagen than type III. There was only a relatively small shift in
composition in favour of type I collagen in the diseased compared to the undiseased tissue.
Diffusely thickened intima was similar in composition to the atherosclerotic plaque. These …