EFFECT OF CALCIUM ON MECHANICAL-BEHAVIOR OF AORTA MEDIA ELASTIN AND COLLAGEN

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 58  (5) , 572-579
Abstract
Mechanical tests were conducted on rings of pig thoracic aorta that were treated with Ca ions to evaluate their effect on aorta media collagen and elastin. There was an increase in stiffness just before rupture and a decrease in storage energy when Ca was introduced into intact rings, but there was no significant difference in mechanical properties when it was introduced into the elastin framework of the media. The Ca bound to the intact aorta media far more readily than to the elastin alone, suggesting that the collagen and muscle framework was far more susceptible to introduction of Ca than elastin. The Ca content rose along the length of the aorta, as did the collagen content; the elastin content fell, which was reflected in the change in mechanical properties along the aorta.