Wall thickness to lumen diameter ratios of arteries from SHR and WKY: Comparison of pressurised and wire-mounted preparations

Abstract

Passive properties (diameter, wall-to-lumen ratio and axial length) of small mesenteric arteries from SHR and WKY rats were measured with the artery segments cannulated and pressurised, or mounted on wires in a myograph. The measurements were made with a range of distending pressures (or calculated equivalent distending pressures when wire-mounted) from 0 to 180 mm Hg. The axial length of artery segments increased with increasing distending pressure when cannulated, but not when wire-mounted. The axial extension was greater for arteries from WKY (up to 105%) than for arteries from SHR (up to 65%). The arteries from SHR had significantly smaller diameters and greater wall-to-lumen ratios than..