Carotid artery stiffness is not related to endothelial function in young healthy subjects.
BACKGROUND
Carotid artery stiffness, an important determinant of arterial baroreflex sensitivity, varies considerably in healthy individuals, the source of which variability is not known. Tonic relaxant influence of the endothelium on vascular smooth muscle, reducing stiffness of the vessel wall, has been established in muscular conduit arteries. It is not known to what extent stiffness of the elastic carotid artery is under endothelial control.


METHODS
Seventy-one healthy male volunteers were studied. Endothelial function was assessed by brachial artery flow mediated dilatation (FMD) normalized by diastolic shear rate (SRd). Carotid artery elastic parameters were determined by echo wall-tracking and tonometry. Systemic arterial stiffness was assessed by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV).


RESULTS
In univariate analysis carotid artery elastic parameters were related to BMI and systolic blood pressure, but were not related to any of endothelial function parameters. As expected, PWV was related inversely to nFMD. No relation was found between vascular stiffness parameters and endothelium-independent dilation (EID).


CONCLUSIONS
Carotid artery elasticity in health is not related to conduit artery FMD, suggesting that endothelial influence on baroreceptor activity is not exerted through changes in barosensory wall elasticity.
Institute of Human Physiology and Clinical Experimental Research Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary. tamas.horvath@eok.sote.hu
Tamas
T
Horvath
Alexandra
A
Pinter
Mark
M
Kollai
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017704:Baroreflex / Q000502:physiology*; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D002346:Carotid Sinus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D004548:Elasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014463:Ultrasonography; D059289:Vascular Stiffness / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult