title: Nitric oxide transport in normal human thoracic aorta: effects of hemodynamics and nitric oxide scavengers.
abstract: Despite the crucial role of nitric oxide (NO) in the homeostasis of the vasculature, little quantitative information exists concerning NO transport and distribution in medium and large-sized arteries where atherosclerosis and aneurysm occur and hemodynamics is complex. We hypothesized that local hemodynamics in arteries may govern NO transport and affect the distribution of NO in the arteries, hence playing an important role in the localization of vascular diseases. To substantiate this hypothesis, we presented a lumen/wall model of the human aorta based on its MRI images to simulate the production, transport and consumption of NO in the arterial lumen and within the aortic wall. The results demonstrated that the distribution of NO in the aorta was quite uneven with remarkably reduced NO bioavailability in regions of disturbed flow, and local hemodynamics could affect NO distribution mainly via flow dependent NO production rate of endothelium. In addition, erythrocytes in the blood could moderately modulate NO concentration in the aorta, especially at the endothelial surface. However, the reaction of NO within the wall could only slightly affect NO concentration on the luminal surface, but strongly reduce NO concentration within the aortic wall. A strong positive correlation was revealed between wall shear stress and NO concentration, which was affected by local hemodynamics and NO reaction rate. In conclusion, the distribution of NO in the aorta may be determined by local hemodynamics and modulated differently by NO scavengers in the lumen and within the wall.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of the Ministry of Education, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Xiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of the Ministry of Education, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Zhenze
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of the Ministry of Education, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Radiologic Department, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Zhanming
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of the Ministry of Education, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Anqiang
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of the Ministry of Education, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Fan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhan
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of the Ministry of Education, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yubo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of the Ministry of Education, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoyan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Deng
mesh_terms: D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000378:metabolism; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D009569:Nitric Oxide