EFFECT OF ACUTE-ISCHEMIA ON ACTIVE AND PASSIVE LARGE DEFORMATION MECHANICS OF CANINE CAROTID ARTERIES

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 54  (1) , 23-31
Abstract
Large deformation mechanical properties of dog carotid arteries excised following 1 h of ischemia and 1 h of reperfusion were compared to those of contralateral normal arteries in vitro. Vascular smooth muscle was invariably activated by 0.5 .mu.g/ml noradrenaline [norepinephrine]. Relative reduction in the diameter of postischemic arteries following noradrenaline administration was 2 times as large (max. [maximum]: 13.2 .+-. 2.0%) as that of normal controls (max.: 5.7 .+-. 1.5%) in the pressure range of 0-220 mm Hg. If the smooth muscle was totally relaxed, there were no differences between the geometric (wall thickness, radius) and mechanical properties (stress, incremental elastic modulus, incremental distensibility, strain-energy density) of the arteries in the 2 series. Increased reactivity of postischemic arteries is not caused by changes in geometric or mechanical properties of their passive wall elements.