F. Kristek et al., REMODELING OF SEPTAL BRANCH OF CORONARY-ARTERY AND CAROTID-ARTERY IN L-NAME TREATED BATS, Physiological Research, 45(4), 1996, pp. 329-333
Coronary and carotid artery structure was studied in rats in order to
analyze the processes in the cardiovascular system in NO-deficient hyp
ertension model. Long-term inhibition of NO synthase was induced by L-
nitro arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 50 mg/kg/day p.o.) for a period o
f 8 weeks. An increase in blood pressure and heart/body weight ratio c
onfirmed the reliability of the model The wall thickness as well as th
e calculated wall area of the coronary artery increased by 70 % and 50
%, respectively, in comparison to control vessels The wall thickness
and the calculated wall area of the carotid artery increased by 73 % a
nd 70 %, respectively. Further analysis indicated that both the tunica
intima and tunica media in the coronary and the carotid artery increa
sed quantitatively in a similar manner. Remarkable differences were fo
und in the contribution of cellular and noncellular components in the
tunica media of the coronary and carotid arteries of experimental anim
als. The calculated extracellular area increased by 116 % in compariso
n to the control coronary artery and by 97 % in comparison to the cont
rol carotid artery. The increase in extracellular matrix of the tunica
media of coronary and carotid arteries seems to be basic cause of the
remodelling of the vessels studied.