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European Heart Journal 1993 14(Supplement C):10-13; doi:10.1093/eurheartj/14.suppl_C.10
Copyright © 1993 by the European Society of Cardiology.
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© 1993 The European Society of Cardiology

Elastic behaviour of the carotid artery in intact spontaneously hypertensive rats

D. Hayoz, B. Rutschmann, C. Y. Genton*, M. Niederberger, H. R. Brunner and B. Waeber

Division of Hypertension, University Hospital Lausanne, Switzerland
* Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Lausanne, Switzerland

Correspondence: Bernard Waeber, MD, Hypertension Division, CHUV, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland.

Intact spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were studied to assess the effect of prolonged antihypertensive treatment on the elastic behaviour of the external carotid artery. Thirty-week-old SHR received the ACE inhibitor captopril, the ateriolar dilator hydralazine or their vehicle for 6 weeks. These rats were compared to normotensive, vehicle treated WKY rats. The internal diameter of the carotid artery was measured continuously in halothane-anaesthetized rats using an echo-tracking device, and intra-arterial pressure was also monitored continuously, on the controlateral side. Captopril- and hydralazinetreated SHR as well as normotensive controls had similar blood pressure values. No significant shift in the distensibility-pressure curves was observed among vehicle-treated SHR and WKY rats or the SHR which had received captopril or hydralazine. Histological examination of the carotid artery fixed ex vivo with paraformaldehyde showed a significant increase in cross-sectional area in vehicle-treated SHR as compared to their normotensive counterparts. These results therefore suggest that the elastic behaviour of elastic arteries is not necessarily altered by the structural changes developing in response to hypertension.

Key Words: Arterial compliance • arterial distensibility • vascular hypertrophy • antihypertensive treatment


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