title: Arterial Vasoreactivity is Equally Affected by In Vivo Cross-Clamping with Increasing Loads in Young and Middle-Aged Mice Aortas.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compensate for the lack of haptic feedback by surgical robots, limitation of exerted forces could be implemented. The limits should be based on the observed relationship between tissue load and induced damage. This study examines whether age-related changes influence this relationship.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descending thoracic aortas of male C57BL/6J mice of 10, 25 and 40 weeks were clamped in vivo (no clamp, 0.5N or 2.0N) for 2 min. Functional integrity was tested in vitro by studying endothelium-dependent and -independent vasoreactivity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Endothelium-dependent relaxation deteriorated with increased clamping force at all ages. Clamping did not influence endothelium-independent vasodilation. Age (10, 25 and 40 weeks) did not significantly impact on the effect of clamping on endothelium-dependent and independent vasoreactivity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Within the tested conditions, mechanical clamping induces damage to the vascular endothelium, but not to the smooth muscle cells. Age has no effect on the obtained results in mice from 10 to 40 weeks old.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Herestraat, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Geenens
authors.forename: Nele
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Famaey
authors.forename: Andy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gijbels
authors.forename: Valérie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Verhulst
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vinckier
authors.forename: Jos
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vander Sloten
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Herijgers
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003250:Constriction; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D011312:Pressure; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D057772:Vascular System Injuries / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014664:Vasodilation