TY - JOUR
T1 - Imaging and modeling of acute pressure-induced changes of collagen and elastin microarchitectures in pig and human resistance arteries
AU - Bloksgaard, Maria
AU - Leurgans, Thomas M.
AU - Spronck, Bart
AU - Heusinkveld, Maarten H. G.
AU - Thorsted, Bjarne
AU - Rosenstand, Kristoffer
AU - Nissen, Inger
AU - Hansen, Ulla M.
AU - Brewer, Jonathan R.
AU - Bagatolli, Luis A.
AU - Rasmussen, Lars M.
AU - Irmukhamedov, Akhmadjon
AU - Reesink, Koen D.
AU - De Mey, Jo G. R.
PY - 2017/7
Y1 - 2017/7
N2 - The impact of disease-related changes in the extracellular matrix (ECM) on the mechanical properties of human resistance arteries largely remains to be established. Resistance arteries from both pig and human parietal pericardium (PRA) display a different ECM microarchitecture compared with frequently used rodent mesenteric arteries. We hypothesized that the biaxial mechanics of PRA mirror pressure-induced changes in the ECM microarchitecture. This was tested using isolated pig PRA as a model system, integrating vital imaging, pressure myography, and mathematical modeling. Collagenase and elastase digestions were applied to evaluate the load-bearing roles of collagen and elastin, respectively. The incremental elastic modulus linearly related to the straightness of adventitial collagen fibers circumferentially and longitudinally (both R-2 >= 0.99), whereas there was a nonlinear relationship to the internal elastic lamina elastin fiber branching angles. Mathematical modeling suggested a collagen recruitment strain (means +/- SE) of 1.1 +/- 0.2 circumferentially and 0.20 +/- 0.01 longitudinally, corresponding to a pressure of similar to 40 mmHg, a finding supported by the vital imaging. The integrated method was tested on human PRA to confirm its validity. These showed limited circumferential distensibility and elongation and a collagen recruitment strain of 0.8 +/- 0.1 circumferentially and 0.06 +/- 0.02 longitudinally, reached at a distending pressure below 20 mmHg. This was confirmed by vital imaging showing negligible microarchitectural changes of elastin and collagen upon pressurization. In conclusion, we show here, for the first time in resistance arteries, a quantitative relationship between pressure-induced changes in the extracellular matrix and the arterial wall mechanics. The strength of the integrated methods invites for future detailed studies of microvascular pathologies.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This is the first study to quantitatively relate pressure-induced microstructural changes in resistance arteries to the mechanics of their wall. Principal findings using a pig model system were confirmed in human arteries. The combined methods provide a strong tool for future hypothesis-driven studies of microvascular pathologies.
AB - The impact of disease-related changes in the extracellular matrix (ECM) on the mechanical properties of human resistance arteries largely remains to be established. Resistance arteries from both pig and human parietal pericardium (PRA) display a different ECM microarchitecture compared with frequently used rodent mesenteric arteries. We hypothesized that the biaxial mechanics of PRA mirror pressure-induced changes in the ECM microarchitecture. This was tested using isolated pig PRA as a model system, integrating vital imaging, pressure myography, and mathematical modeling. Collagenase and elastase digestions were applied to evaluate the load-bearing roles of collagen and elastin, respectively. The incremental elastic modulus linearly related to the straightness of adventitial collagen fibers circumferentially and longitudinally (both R-2 >= 0.99), whereas there was a nonlinear relationship to the internal elastic lamina elastin fiber branching angles. Mathematical modeling suggested a collagen recruitment strain (means +/- SE) of 1.1 +/- 0.2 circumferentially and 0.20 +/- 0.01 longitudinally, corresponding to a pressure of similar to 40 mmHg, a finding supported by the vital imaging. The integrated method was tested on human PRA to confirm its validity. These showed limited circumferential distensibility and elongation and a collagen recruitment strain of 0.8 +/- 0.1 circumferentially and 0.06 +/- 0.02 longitudinally, reached at a distending pressure below 20 mmHg. This was confirmed by vital imaging showing negligible microarchitectural changes of elastin and collagen upon pressurization. In conclusion, we show here, for the first time in resistance arteries, a quantitative relationship between pressure-induced changes in the extracellular matrix and the arterial wall mechanics. The strength of the integrated methods invites for future detailed studies of microvascular pathologies.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This is the first study to quantitatively relate pressure-induced microstructural changes in resistance arteries to the mechanics of their wall. Principal findings using a pig model system were confirmed in human arteries. The combined methods provide a strong tool for future hypothesis-driven studies of microvascular pathologies.
KW - incremental elastic (Young's) modulus
KW - extracellular matrix
KW - two-photon excitation fluorescence microscopy
KW - collagen recruitment
KW - SPONTANEOUSLY HYPERTENSIVE-RATS
KW - EXTRACELLULAR-MATRIX
KW - CARDIOVASCULAR EVENTS
KW - MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES
KW - STRUCTURAL ALTERATIONS
KW - INDEPENDENT PREDICTOR
KW - FUNCTIONAL-CHANGES
KW - CORONARY-ARTERIES
KW - DIABETES-MELLITUS
KW - CAROTID ARTERIES
U2 - 10.1152/ajpheart.00110.2017
DO - 10.1152/ajpheart.00110.2017
M3 - Article
C2 - 28432057
SN - 0363-6135
VL - 313
SP - H164-H178
JO - American Journal of Physiology-heart and Circulatory Physiology
JF - American Journal of Physiology-heart and Circulatory Physiology
IS - 1
ER -