Implications of pulsatile stretch on growth of saphenous vein and mammary artery smooth muscle

• Published in: The Lancet (British edition) Vol. 340; no. 8824; pp. 878 - 879
• Main Authors: Lüscher, T.F., Predel, H-G., Yang, Z., Bühler, F.R., von Segesser, L., Turina, M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Elsevier Ltd 10.10.1992; Lancet; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Cardiovascular disease; Cell Division - physiology; Cell proliferation; Cells, Cultured; Deformation; DNA Replication - physiology; Formability; Grafting; Grafts; Heart surgery; Humans; Hyperplasia; Mammary Arteries - cytology; Mammary Arteries - physiology; Mechanical properties; Medical research; Medical sciences; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular - physiology; Muscles; Muscular system; Occlusion; Reflex, Stretch - physiology; Saphenous Vein - cytology; Saphenous Vein - physiology; Smooth muscle; Space life sciences; Stress, Mechanical; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surgery of the heart; Thymidine; Varicose veins; Human; Cardiovascular disease; Autologous system; Transplantation; Coronary heart disease; In vitro; Plasty; Aortocoronary; Bypass; Saphenous vein; Surgery; Internal mammary artery; Comparative study
• ISSN: 0140-6736; 1474-547X
• DOI: 10.1016/0140-6736(92)93287-W

Internal mammary artery (IMA) coronary bypass grafts have a higher patency than saphenous vein (SV) grafts. Intimal hyperplasia and occlusion of venous grafts result from smooth muscle proliferation. Mechanical factors, such as pulsatile stretch, are potential mediators of this process. Smooth muscle cells from IMA and SV were cultured on deformable membranes and exposed to pulsatile stretch (60 cycles/min). This stimulus increased 3H-thymidine incorporation into venous (a two-fold increase) but not arterial smooth muscle cells after 24 h. Smooth muscle cell numbers from SV, but not IMA, were increased (p<0·05) after 6 days of stretch. Thus, pulsatile stretch stimulates smooth muscle cell proliferation in SV, but not I MA, and may contribute to venous bypass graft disease.