The elasticity of canine and human coronary arteries with reference to postmortem changes.

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Abstract
The elastic properties of coronary arteries are essential mechanical factors in coronary heart disease. In view of the necessity of using postmortem material to study human arteries, a preliminary study was made on the elasticity changes of a muscular artery (the femoral) after excision and cold storage. Dynamic (Edyn) and static (Estat) incremental, elastic moduli of all arteries were calculated from simultaneously recorded pressure and diameter traces, the latter, in most instances, being obtained with an existing electrical caliper. A new, light-weight, strain-gauge caliper was developed to allow direct diameter records to be obtained from the left circumflex coronary artery (LCCA) on the beating canine heart. After excision and overnight cold storage, respectively, the canine femoral artery showed increases in diameter (9.2 and 11.6%), Estat (77 and 173%), and Edyn (46 and 99%). These changes are probably applicable to the coronary arteries in view of the similarities in their medial structure. Edyn for the canine LCCA was 1.23 .+-. 0.12 N.cntdot.m-2 .times. 106 and was in excellent agreement with published data for femoral and carotid arteries. The mean and SEM [standard error of the mean] values of Estat and Edyn for 6 excised, human coronary arteries (subjects 14-40 yr of age) were 2.31 .+-. 0.49 and 4.46 .+-. 1.21 (SEM) N.cntdot.m-2 .times. 106, respectively; these are higher in comparison to the above in vivo data but agree with published values from other excised human vessels. The postmortem increases in elasticity indicate that human coronary and femoral arteries probably have similar elastic properties, i.e., Edyn = 1.2 N.cntdot.m-2 .times. 106.

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