Differences in mechanics of arterial smooth muscle from hindlimb arteries

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Abstract
Segments of iliac, femoral and saphenous arteries were used to compare arterial wall mechanics with connective tissue content. Pressure-diameter relations were obtained under active (norepinephrine) and passive (2 mM EGTA [ethyleneglycol-bis-tetraacetic acid]) conditions. Differences in such relations were used to compute values of active wall stress and active midwall diameter responses. Small, periodic pressure releases were performed during isometric responses to norepinephrine at Lmax [maximum length] and pressure-diameter responses were used to determine values of mechanical properties of series elastic elements (SE). The same segments were used to determine collagen and elastin content. No clear relationship occurred between passive mechanical properties and connective tissue content, specifically collagen-to-elastin ratio. When artery size differences were considered no differences in SE properties were found among the 3 arterial sites. At Lmax, values of passive elastic moduli were largest, and the radius-wall thickness ratio and passive wall stress were smallest in the saphenous arteries. No significant differences occurred in maximum values of active stress responses for the 3 sites. Values of active diameter response for the saphenous arteries were significantly larger and values for the iliac arteries significantly smaller than those for the femoral arteries. The latter findings are most likely the result of differences in geometry and passive elastic properties of these arteries.

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