Dimensions and wall force development capacity of human pial arteries from normotensives is not altered in obesity.
OBJECTIVE
The dimensions and maximum wall tension capacity of segments of human pial arteries from normotensive obese and non-obese patients were compared.


METHODS
Segment size was assessed by quantitative morphometry of fixed sections and wall force by in vitro myography.


METHODS
Twenty normotensive non-obese and 13 normotensive obese humans body mass index (BMI) 22.4+/-0.5 and 33.9+/-1.7 kg/m(2), respectively) were studied.


RESULTS
There was no significant difference in the perimeter of the outer medial border, the smoothed out length of the internal elastic lamina, the ratios of media thickness to area and lumen diameter and the maximum wall force development between the two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Obesity per se is not associated with initial dimensional changes nor capacity to develop wall tension that might lead to the emergence of hypertension.
Bevan
J A
JA
Totman Laboratory for Cerebrovascular Research, Department of Pharmacology University of Vermont, College of Medicine, Burlington, Vermont 05405-0068, USA.
Dodge
J
J
Walters
C L
CL
Wellman
T
T
Bevan
R D
RD
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology