Date of Award

Summer 1956

Document Type

Thesis - Restricted

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Chemistry

First Advisor

Brown, Kenneth

Second Advisor

Koch, John R.

Abstract

Of the many diseases contributing to the mortality of the human race, atherosclerosis is the leading contender. Atherosclerosis is a species of arteriosclerosis. Arteriosclerosis is defined as a condition characterized by loss of elasticity, thickening, and hardening of the arterial wall. When this condition is restricted to the intima, it is termed atherosclerosis. This word is derived from the Greek "athere" meaning mush, which describes the amorphous lipid accumulation characteristic of the atherosclerotic lesion. The lipid laden lesions (called plaques) project into the lumen of the arteries preventing a adequate blood supply to essential organs such as the heart and the brain with consequent anoxia. The disease was originally thought to be a natural, inevitable, aging process and consequently was considered to be incurable. The senescence theory has obviously been an impediment to the study of the disease. There is however, increasing evidence that the disease is preventable and possibly reversible and thus research in the field is justified. Theories as to the causative agent(s) of the disease are based upon the physical and/or chemical variations in the arterial system and/or blood. Dr. Evans has evolved a method for the production of atheroma in vitro which is based on the premise that the causative agent(s) resides in the blood. The purpose of this thesis is to describe a tool for the analysis of the blood and the use of that tool as a means for determining which blood fraction or fractions are responsible for the in vitro production of atheroma.

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