Static linear and nonlinear elastic properties of normal and arterialized venous tissue in dog and man

Ten normal and four transplanted canine jugular vein segments and four human saphenous vein segments were studied to determine the in vitro static elastic properties of venous tissue and their modification by transplantation into the arterial system. Both the intraluminal pressure and the longitudinal force were varied, and the resulting dimensions were recorded photographically. Venous segments manifested a hysteresis response but showed minimum tendency to creep. The pressure-strain relationships were curvilinear with an initial, highly compliant phase over the physiological venous pressure range followed by a relatively noncompliant phase. This transition occurred at lower pressures for jugular segments than it did for saphenous segments. In contrast, comparable-sized canine carotide artery segments did not show this essentially noncompliant phase over the pressure range studied (0 to 200 cm H2O). At comparable pressures and strains, the jugular vein segments were stiffer than the saphenous vein segments in both the circumferential and the longitudinal directions. At comparable strains, the saphenous vein moduli were similar to those in the carotid artery segments. Jugular segments transplanted into arterial circuits became virtually noncompliant and markedly inhomogeneous, with wall thickening and a histologic picture of intimal proliferation. They showed no tendency to "arterialize," that is, they failed to assume either the elastic or the histologic characteristics of arterial tissue.