title: SBP, DBP, and pulse blood pressure variability are temporally associated with the increase in pulse wave velocity in a model of aortic stiffness.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Enhanced aortic stiffness and blood pressure variability (BPV) are independent risk factors for cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality in man. They are also correlated with increased blood pressure (BP) and/or arterial remodeling. However, the interplay between BP and BPV on the stiffening process is still unclear. Our objectives were to determine the temporal evolution of both BPV and pulse wave velocity (PWV), a surrogate measure of arterial stiffness, using an animal model of remodeling-dependent aortic stiffening.
  
  
  METHODS
  We thus, developed a new telemetric technique allowing continuous measurement of PWV in conscious, unrestrained rats. Studies were performed in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) treated for 2 weeks with N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor (SHR-LN). BPV was evaluated conventionally or with a new device composed of two pressure transducers in two different sets of rats. This allowed a continuous monitoring of telemetered PWV, systolic (SPV), diastolic (DPV), and pulse pressure variability (PPV). Aortic structure was then characterized by immunohistochemical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SPV, DPV, and PPV were increased in SHR-LN, when calculated by 24-h SD or using average real variability a parameter used to assess short-term variability in man. We observed rapid and simultaneous increases in BP, SPV, and PWV. Interestingly, PPV was the most increased parameter resulting mainly from different time course of SPV and DPV. Structural alterations of the aortic wall were observed, with a eutrophic inward remodeling and accumulation of fibronectin and its two main receptors (α5 and αv integrins).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This offers unequivocal evidence of a significant relationship between PWV, BPV, and arterial structure.
authors.affiliation: aInstitut de Recherches Servier, SuresnesbCenter of Clinical Research, Groupe Hospitalier Paris Saint-JosephcHôtel-Dieu Hospital, Diagnosis Center and Université René Descartes, UFR MédecinedDepartment of PathologyeDepartment of Pharmacy, Groupe Hospitalier Paris Saint-Joseph, Paris, France*Christine Vayssettes-Courchay and Yvonnick Bézie contributed equally to the writing of this article.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Isabelle
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chimenti
authors.forename: Hélène
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Beaussier
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gransagne
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Villeneuve
authors.forename: Michel E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Safar
authors.forename: Véronique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Duchatelle
authors.forename: Jean-Paul
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Vilaine
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vayssettes-Courchay
authors.forename: Yvonnick
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bézie
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D063177:Pulse Wave Analysis; D051381:Rats; D059289:Vascular Stiffness / Q000502:physiology*