Effect of ovariectomy and Sideritis euboea extract administration on large artery mechanics, morphology, and structure in middle-aged rats.
Arterial function is regulated by estrogen, but no consistent pattern of arterial mechanical remodeling in response to depleted estrogen levels is available.



To examine long-term effects of ovariectomy (OVX) on the mechanical properties, morphology, and histological structure of the carotid artery in middle-aged rats and a potentially protective effect of Sideritis euboea extract (SID), commonly consumed as "mountain tea".



10-month-old female Wistar rats were allocated into control (sham-operated), OVX, OVX+SID, and OVX+MALT (maltodextrin; excipient used for dilution of SID) groups. They were sacrificed after 6 months and their carotid arteries were submitted to inflation/extension tests and to dimensional and histological evaluation.



Remodeling in OVX rats was characterized by a decreased in situ axial extension ratio, along with increased opening angle, thickness, and area of the vessel wall and of its medial layer, but unchanged lumen diameter. Compositional changes involved increased elastin/collagen densities. Characterization by the "four-fiber" microstructure-motivated model revealed similar in situ biaxial response of carotid arteries in OVX and control rats.



Carotid artery remodeling in OVX rats was largely consistent with hypertensive remodeling, despite the minor arterial pressure changes found, and was not altered by administration of SID, despite previous evidence of its osteo-protective effect.
Laboratory of Biomechanics, Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery, and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece.
Dimitrios P
DP
Sokolis
Laboratory of Biomechanics, Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery, and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece.
Constantinos A
CA
Dimitriou
Laboratory for Research of the Musculoskeletal System, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
Pavlos
P
Lelovas
Laboratory Animal Facility, Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery, and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece.
Nikolaos G
NG
Kostomitsopoulos
Laboratory for Research of the Musculoskeletal System, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
Ismene A
IA
Dontas
D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D055595:Mechanical Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects*; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010052:Ovariectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D031365:Sideritis / Q000737:chemistry*; D014599:Uterus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development
D010936:Plant Extracts
Carotid artery; collagen; material characterization; mechanical testing; opening angle