Characteristic change in local pulse wave velocity in different segments of the atherosclerotic aorta in KHC rabbits.
BACKGROUND
Pulse wave velocity, conventionally determined between the carotid and femoral arteries, is a useful measure to estimate stiffness of the aorta. We investigated local pulse wave velocity (LPWV) in different segments in the aorta with relatively early-stage atherosclerosis in relation to the extent and severity of atherosclerotic lesions.


METHODS
Pressure waves were recorded in eight aortic positions using two catheters with one or two micromanometers to determine LPWV in the ascending aorta, distal end of the aortic arch, proximal, middle, and distal thoracic aortas, and proximal, middle, and distal abdominal aortas in Kurosawa and Kusanagi-hypercholesterolemic (KHC) and normal rabbits aged 10 to 12 months.


RESULTS
The LPWV in the KHC rabbit was greatest in the aortic arch, decreased almost to the normal level in the middle and distal thoracic aorta, increased in the proximal abdominal aorta, and showed almost identical change to that in the normal rabbit in the middle and distal abdominal aortic regions. There was significant difference in LPWV in the aortic arch, proximal thoracic, and proximal abdominal aortas between the two rabbit groups. The sclerotic lesion was prominent in the aortic arch, proximal thoracic aorta, and proximal abdominal aortas. The wall was severely thickened with abundant foam cells. The significant increase in LPWV would be mainly related to the increased wall thickness in these aortic regions.


CONCLUSIONS
We can conclude that LPWV reflects well the distribution and severity of atherosclerotic lesion and the increased wall thickness in the local aortic region in which pulse waves were traveled.
Katsuda
Shin-ichiro
S
Department of Physiology, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, 1 Hikari-gaoka, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan. skatsuda@fmu.ac.jp
Miyashita
Hiroshi
H
Hasegawa
Masamitsu
M
Machida
Noboru
N
Kusanagi
Masahiko
M
Yamasaki
Masao
M
Waki
Hidefumi
H
Hazama
Akihiro
A
D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D018056:Hemorheology; D011674:Pulse; D011817:Rabbits