HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Personal Folders Download to citation manager Author home page(s): Dimitrios Angouras Theodosios Dosios Permission Requests Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Angouras, D. Articles by Karayannacos, P. E. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Angouras, D. Articles by Karayannacos, P. E.

Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2000;17:468-473
© 2000 Elsevier Science NL

Effect of impaired vasa vasorum flow on the structure and mechanics of the thoracic aorta: implications for the pathogenesis of aortic dissection

^a Laboratory for Experimental Surgery and Surgical Research, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Athens, Greece
^b The Ohio State University Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA

Corresponding author. 3 Bizaniou Street, 15232 Chalandri, Athens, Greece. Tel./fax: +30-1-685-4534
e-mail: angouras{at}internet.gr

Objective: To investigate the alterations of structure and mechanical properties of the aortic wall, resulting from impairment of vasa vasorum flow. Methods: Eight healthy Landrace pigs were subjected to interruption of vasa vasorum flow to the upper segment of their descending thoracic aorta. Under sterile conditions, the periaortic tissue was excised and the contiguous intercostal arteries were ligated. Ten sham-operated pigs were used as controls. Fifteen days postoperatively, the animals were sacrificed and their upper descending thoracic aortas were removed. Histology, and collagen and elastin content determination by image analysis technique were performed. Mechanical analysis of aortic strips was carried out with a uniaxial tension device and stress–strain curves were obtained. Results: In contrast to normal aortic walls of the control group, histology of the avascular aortas revealed severe ischemic necrosis of the outer media along with abnormal straightening of the elastin and collagen fibers, without significant collagen and elastin content changes. The borderline between the outer ischemic and inner non-ischemic media was sharp, and an outset of dissection was observed at this point. Mechanical analysis showed that at the same level of strain, the ischemic aorta was significantly stiffer at both low (P=0.03) and high strains (P=0.003). Conclusions: Impairment of blood supply to the thoracic aorta leads to abnormal morphology of elastin and collagen fibers of the outer media, resulting in increased aortic stiffness under a wide range of stresses. In the clinical setting, decreased vasa vasorum flow, reportedly occurring in arterial hypertension, may increase the stiffness of the outer media of the thoracic aorta and produce interlaminar shear stresses, contributing to the development of aortic dissection.

Key Words: Aorta • Elasticity • Vasa vasorum • Ischemia • Dissection

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. R. Dashwood, K. Savage, J. C.S. Tsui, A. Dooley, S. G. Shaw, M. S. Fernandez Alfonso, L. Bodin, and D. S.R. Souza Retaining perivascular tissue of human saphenous vein grafts protects against surgical and distension-induced damage and preserves endothelial nitric oxide synthase and nitric oxide synthase activity. J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg., August 1, 2009; 138(2): 334 - 340. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. L. Ritman and A. Lerman The dynamic vasa vasorum Cardiovasc Res, September 1, 2007; 75(4): 649 - 658. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. G. Moulakakis, D. P. Sokolis, D. N. Perrea, T. Dosios, I. Dontas, M. V. Poulakou, C. A. Dimitriou, G. Sandris, and P. E. Karayannacos The Mechanical Performance and Histomorphological Structure of the Descending Aorta in Hyperthyroidism Angiology, June 1, 2007; 58(3): 343 - 352. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. C. Moon, J. Pablo Morales, and R. K. Greenberg Complicated Acute Type B Dissection and Endovascular Repair: Indications and Pitfalls Perspectives in Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy, June 1, 2007; 19(2): 146 - 159. [Abstract] [PDF]

				P. J. Boor, Y. Yang, and B. Gong Role of the Media in Vascular Injury: Atherosclerosis and Dissection Toxicol Pathol, January 1, 2006; 34(1): 33 - 38. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. Liao, T. Y. Wong, R. Klein, D. Jones, L. Hubbard, and A. R. Sharrett Relationship Between Carotid Artery Stiffness and Retinal Arteriolar Narrowing in Healthy Middle-Aged Persons Stroke, April 1, 2004; 35(4): 837 - 842. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]