Prolonged Mechanical Circumferential Stretch Induces Metabolic Changes in Rat Inferior Vena Cava

Circumferential stretch on the vein wall has been suggested as a potential etiological factor in the development of varicose veins. However, the influence of vein wall stretch on vein metabolism has not yet been explored. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of short and prolonged mechanical stretch on vein wall metabolism.

Circular segments of inferior vena cava from male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to normal 0.5-g (nonstretched) or high 2-g (stretched) tension for short (4 h) or prolonged (18 h) duration (five vein segments per group). Contraction response to phenylephrine (10^-5 M) and KCl (96 mM) was elicited to observe the effect of circumferential stretch on vein function. The polar and organic metabolites in vein tissue were extracted using a bilayer extraction method. Aqueous and organic extracts were analyzed using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry, respectively. Data acquired from both analytical platforms were analyzed using mathematical modeling.

Increased concentrations of valine (p = .02) and choline (p = .03) metabolites and triglyceride moieties (p = .03) were observed in veins stretched for 18 h compared with the nonstretched/18 h group.

Increased concentrations of branched chain amino acid valine and cell membrane constituent choline indicate increased muscle breakdown and increased metabolism of membrane phospholipids under stretch in an ex-vivo model. Increased intensities of triglyceride moieties in stretched vein segments for 18 h suggest that high pressure may induce an inflammatory response.

This study has shown that prolonged mechanical circumferential stretch (18 h) alters the metabolic profile of rat inferior vena cava.