Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 17, 2026
10:35
Measuring the Stiffness of Ex Vivo Mouse Aortas Using Atomic Force Microscopy
Published on: October 19, 2016
Impact of cold storage protocols on passive arterial wall mechanical behavior
Silke Dreesen1, Kristyna Holko1, Maifarah Anthonijsz2
1Department of Cardiology, Biomedical Engineering, Cardiovascular Institute, Thorax Center, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Summary
Cold storage significantly alters arterial tissue elasticity, impacting mechanical testing. Slow freezing best preserves passive mechanical behavior, but animal and anatomical variability remain key factors.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Materials Science
- Cardiovascular Research
Background:
- Mechanical characterization of arterial tissue is crucial for understanding vascular health and disease.
- Ex vivo tissue storage can alter mechanical properties, affecting experimental reliability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically evaluate the impact of various cold storage protocols on the passive viscoelastic behavior of arterial walls.
- To identify optimal storage conditions for preserving arterial mechanical properties for ex vivo testing.
Main Methods:
- Biaxial mechanical testing of porcine descending aorta specimens (n=177) after exposure to six different cold storage protocols.
- Quantification of elastic (strain energy density) and viscous (loss factor) behavior.
- Statistical analysis using linear mixed-effects models to account for biological variability.
Main Results:
- Cold storage significantly altered elastic behavior, while viscous behavior remained largely preserved.
- Refrigeration decreased elasticity; snap freezing and cryoprotectants increased it.
- Slow freezing in phosphate-buffered saline to -80°C demonstrated the best preservation of passive mechanical properties.
Conclusions:
- Cold storage protocols demonstrably alter passive arterial mechanics, particularly elasticity.
- Variability among animals and anatomical locations is a more significant factor than storage method.
- Findings offer guidance for selecting appropriate tissue storage methods for ex vivo mechanical testing.
