Structural and functional remodeling of poststenotic arteries in the rat

In rat femoral arteries situated distally from a unilateral partial iliac artery obstruction, we observed: (i) 30% reduction of media cross sectional area, without alteration of arterial DNA content, (ii) a steeper relationship between strain and circumferential wall stress at rest, (iii) 12% reduction of the diameter at which maximal active wall tension was observed, (iv) reduction (25%) of maximal active wall tension, but not maximal active wall stress, and (v) a leftward shift of the relationship between diameter and sensitivity for contractile stimuli. Chronic flow reduction at constant pressure, did not modify arterial properties. These findings indicate that (pulse) pressure, influences arterial structure and function primarily by an effect on arterial smooth muscle cell volume. Vascular remodeling may thus result from disproportionate effects on vessel wall components.