Static elastic studies of lathyritic rabbit carotid arteries and thoracic aorta

Sixteen New Zealand White rabbits with an average initial weight of 1.6 kg were used to determine if lathyrism altered the static elastic properties of the aorta and carotid arteries. Eight were given 1% beta-aminopropionitrile in their drinking water for the same period. All were fed regular rabbit chow. Blood pressures and body weights were taken twice weekly. Blood pressure was not significantly different between the two groups but the lathyritic animals did lose weight while the controls gained. The rabbits were sacrificed at the end of 4 weeks with an overdose of sodium pentobarbital (Nembutal) and the carotid arteries and thoracic aorta were removed for pressure--volume experiments. From these experiments tension--strain curves, elasticities, and slack of the collagen were obtained. The longitudinal distensibility curves for the aortas and carotid arteries for both groups were almost identical. The longitudinal elasticities of elastin and collagen, and the slack were not significantly different between the two groups. The circumferential-distensibility curves for the same arteries showed few differences, however, the elasticities of elastin and collagen, and the slack decreased indicating an alteration in the elastin and a decrease in collagen fibres or a defect in the intramolecular cross-links of collagen.