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Arterial wall remodeling under sustained axial twisting in rats
Guo-Liang Wang1, Li-Yi Wang2, Shao-Xiong Yang3
1Institute of Mechanobiology and Medical Engineering, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China; Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA.
This study reveals how sustained twisting of rat carotid arteries causes significant arterial wall remodeling over four weeks. Key changes include increased cell proliferation and vessel diameter, demonstrating in vivo vascular adaptation to torsion.
Area of Science:
- Vascular Biology
- Biomedical Engineering
- Mechanobiology
Background:
- Blood vessels are subjected to torsional forces along their axes.
- Understanding arterial wall remodeling under torsion is crucial for vascular health.
- Existing models for studying in vivo torsion are limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate arterial wall remodeling in response to sustained axial twisting in vivo.
- To establish and validate a rat carotid artery twisting model for long-term torsion studies.
- To elucidate the cellular and structural adaptations of arteries under mechanical stress.
Main Methods:
- Development of a rat model for sustained in vivo axial twisting of carotid arteries (180°).
- Maintenance of twisted arteries for up to 4 weeks.
- Analysis of arterial wall remodeling using histology, immunohistochemistry, and fluorescent microscopy.
Main Results:
- Arterial remodeling occurred in a time-dependent manner over 4 weeks.
- Increased cell proliferation, MMP-2/MMP-9 expression, medial thickness, and lumen diameter were observed.
- Decreased collagen to elastin ratio, increased internal elastic lamina fenestrae, and endothelial cell elongation/alignment were noted.
Conclusions:
- Sustained axial twisting induces significant in vivo artery remodeling.
- The rat carotid artery twisting model effectively simulates long-term torsion effects.
- This research enhances understanding of vascular adaptation to mechanical stresses.
