N. Stergiopulos et al., Assessing the homogeneity of the elastic properties and composition of thepig aortic media, J VASC RES, 38(3), 2001, pp. 237-246
Citations number
28
Categorie Soggetti
Cardiovascular & Respiratory Systems","Cardiovascular & Hematology Research
Most previous studies of arterial wall elasticity and theology have assumed
that the properties of the wall are uniform across the thickness of the me
d ia and, therefore, that the relationship between stress and strain may be
described by a constitutive equation based on a single strain energy funct
ion. The few studies where this assumption has been questioned, focussed on
differences between the adventitia and the media rather than on difference
s within the media itself. Here, we report in vitro elasticity and residual
strain measurements performed separately on the inner and outer half of th
e pig aortic: media, together with a histomorphometric assessment of the ra
dial distribution of elastin, collagen and smooth muscle cell numbers. Alth
ough we found that the pressure-diameter relationships of the two halves we
re dissimilar, when allowance was made for their different unloaded dimensi
ons, their material properties agreed closely, a result in keeping with the
observed uniform radial distribution of scleroprotein and vascular smooth
muscle. We also found a difference in the opening angle (which is often tak
en as a measure of residual strain) between the inner and outer medial halv
es. However, strain analysis showed that the opening angle is an extremely
sensitive measure of residual strain and that the difference in the actual
magnitudes of residual strain between the two halves of the media was small
. We conclude that the media of the porcine thoracic aorta has similar elas
tic properties throughout its thickness and that this uniformity is matched
by a uniform distribution of matrix protein and vascular smooth muscle cel
ls. Furthermore, the distribution of strain in the media can adequately be
described by a single-layer model with uniform elastic properties throughou
t its thickness. Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel.