Distension produces medial but not endothelial damage in porcine internal mammary artery

• Published in: Cardiovascular surgery (London, England) Vol. 3; no. 2; p. 171
• Main Authors: Cooper, G J, Gillot, T, Francis, S E, Angelini, G D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.04.1995
• Subjects: Adenosine Triphosphate - metabolism; Animals; Endothelium, Vascular - physiology; Epoprostenol - biosynthesis; Female; In Vitro Techniques; Mammary Arteries - metabolism; Mammary Arteries - physiology; Mammary Arteries - ultrastructure; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Swine
• ISSN: 0967-2109
• DOI: 10.1016/0967-2109(95)90889-D

The influence of intraluminal distension on porcine internal mammary artery was studied using adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) concentration and prostacyclin production as biochemical markers of medial and endothelial functional integrity respectively. Distension reduced mean (95% confidence limits) tissue ATP concentrations from 459 (337-581) nmol/g wet weight to 314 (193-435) nmol/g wet weight (n = 10, P < 0.01). Stimulated prostacyclin production was similar in undistended (25.8(15.9-35.9) pg/min per mg wet weight) and distended arteries (33.2(21.4-45.1) pg/min per mg wet weight) (n = 8, not significant). The data demonstrate that distension of the internal mammary artery results in acute medial but not endothelial damage. Distension-induced medial damage is unlikely to be rapidly reversible and might have implications for the early and long-term function of the artery as a bypass graft.