title: The mechanical properties of the systemic and pulmonary arteries of Python regius correlate with blood pressures.
abstract: Pythons are unique amongst snakes in having different pressures in the aortas and pulmonary arteries because of intraventricular pressure separation. In this study, we investigate whether this correlates with different blood vessel strength in the ball python Python regius. We excised segments from the left, right, and dorsal aortas, and from the two pulmonary arteries. These were subjected to tensile testing. We show that the aortic vessel wall is significantly stronger than the pulmonary artery wall in P. regius. Gross morphological characteristics (vessel wall thickness and correlated absolute amount of collagen content) are likely the most influential factors. Collagen fiber thickness and orientation are likely to have an effect, though the effect of collagen fiber type and cross-links between fibers will need further study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioscience, Zoophysiology, University of Aarhus, C.F. Møllers Allé 3, Aarhus C, 8000, Denmark.|Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Benjamin J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: van Soldt
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedicine, University of Aarhus, Wilhelm Meyers Allé 3, Aarhus C, 8000, Denmark.
authors.forename: Carl Christian
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Danielsen
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioscience, Zoophysiology, University of Aarhus, C.F. Møllers Allé 3, Aarhus C, 8000, Denmark.
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure; D017821:Boidae / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology
keywords: aorta; biomechanics; collagen; snake; tension