Microstructure and mechanics of human resistance arteries.
Vascular diseases such as diabetes and hypertension cause changes to the vasculature that can lead to vessel stiffening and the loss of vasoactivity. The microstructural bases of these changes are not presently fully understood. We present a new methodology for stain-free visualization, at a microscopic scale, of the morphology of the main passive components of the walls of unfixed resistance arteries and their response to changes in transmural pressure. Human resistance arteries were dissected from subcutaneous fat biopsies, mounted on a perfusion myograph, and imaged at varying transmural pressures using a multimodal nonlinear microscope. High-resolution three-dimensional images of elastic fibers, collagen, and cell nuclei were constructed. The honeycomb structure of the elastic fibers comprising the internal elastic layer became visible at a transmural pressure of 30 mmHg. The adventitia, comprising wavy collagen fibers punctuated by straight elastic fibers, thinned under pressure as the collagen network straightened and pulled taut. Quantitative measurements of fiber orientation were made as a function of pressure. A multilayer analytical model was used to calculate the stiffness and stress in each layer. The adventitia was calculated to be up to 10 times as stiff as the media and experienced up to 8 times the stress, depending on lumen diameter. This work reveals that pressure-induced reorganization of fibrous proteins gives rise to very high local strain fields and highlights the unique mechanical roles of both fibrous networks. It thereby provides a basis for understanding the micromechanical significance of structural changes that occur with age and disease.
Department of Physics, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom; BellJ10@cardiff.ac.uk.|Institute of Biomedical and Clinical Science, University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom.
J S
JS
Bell
Diabetes and Vascular Medicine, Institute of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Exeter Medical School and NIHR Exeter Clinical Research Facility, Exeter, United Kingdom; and.
A O
AO
Adio
Diabetes and Vascular Medicine, Institute of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Exeter Medical School and NIHR Exeter Clinical Research Facility, Exeter, United Kingdom; and.
A
A
Pitt
Diabetes and Vascular Medicine, Institute of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Exeter Medical School and NIHR Exeter Clinical Research Facility, Exeter, United Kingdom; and.
L
L
Hayman
Diabetes and Vascular Medicine, Institute of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Exeter Medical School and NIHR Exeter Clinical Research Facility, Exeter, United Kingdom; and.
C E
CE
Thorn
Diabetes and Vascular Medicine, Institute of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Exeter Medical School and NIHR Exeter Clinical Research Facility, Exeter, United Kingdom; and.
A C
AC
Shore
Institute of Biomedical and Clinical Science, University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom.
J L
JL
Whatmore
Department of Physics, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom.
C P
CP
Winlove
D000328:Adult; D063194:Adventitia / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D001158:Arteries / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D003094:Collagen / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D004547:Elastic Tissue / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D008853:Microscopy; D064847:Multimodal Imaging; D009213:Myography; D011312:Pressure; D050151:Subcutaneous Fat / Q000098:blood supply; D014655:Vascular Resistance; D055815:Young Adult
D003094:Collagen
blood pressure; extracellular matrix; mechanical modeling; resistance artery; stress
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