Mechanical properties of small femoral arteries in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Modulation of Small Artery Function by Insulin in Young Women: Role of Adiposity

OBJECTIVES

Vascular dysfunction is common in obesity. Insulin can directly modulate arterial function, but its role is unclear in obesity. We examined the influence of adiposity on direct effects of insulin on human artery responses.

METHODS

22 healthy women were stratified by median BMI into lower (LA) (n=11) and higher adiposity (HA) (n=11). Small arteries from gluteal biopsies were tested for contractile responses to Noradrenaline (NA), the endothelium-dependent dilator Carbachol and the endothelium-independent dilator sodium nitroprusside were examined before and after incubation with 100 mU/ml human insulin.

RESULTS

Contractile responses were similar in the two groups. Insulin reduced NA-induced contraction in HA [3.5 (2.4-4.6) vs. 2.4 (1.4-3.4) mN/mm: p=0.004] but not those from LA [4.1 (2.8-5.3) vs. 3.7 (2.5-5.0) mN/mm: p=0.33]. Endothelium-dependent dilation (EDD) was significantly reduced in arteries from women in the HA (34.7 (18.8-50.6%)) compared to those from women in the LA (62.3 (46.2- 78.4); p=0.013). Insulin improved EDD (change in maximal dilation before/after insulin (%)) in arteries from the HA (37.7 (18.0 to 57.3) but not the LA (6.3 (-6.5 to 19.1), p=0.007.

CONCLUSION

Reduced EDD evident in arteries from HA subjects improve by incubating in insulin. Hyperinsulinaemia may be necessary in maintaining endothelial function in obesity.

Small artery function 2 years postpartum in women with altered glycaemic distributions in their preceding pregnancy

GDM (gestational diabetes mellitus) is associated with later adverse cardiovascular risk. The present study examined the relationship between glycaemia during pregnancy and small artery function and structures approx. 2 years postpartum. Women were originally enrolled in the HAPO (Hyperglycaemia and Adverse Pregnancy Outcome) study from which they were classified by their glycaemic distribution during pregnancy as controls (in the lower half of the distribution), UQ (upper quartile; in the UQ of the glycaemic distribution) or having had overt GDM. Subcutaneous arteries from a gluteal fat biopsy taken at follow-up 2 years later were examined using wire myography. Small artery structure, stiffness and vasoconstrictor responses were similar across groups. Maximal endothelium-dependent dilation in response to carbachol was impaired in arteries from both GDM (43.3%, n=8 and P=0.01) and UQ (51.7%, n=13 and P=0.04) women despite generally 'normal' current glycaemia (controls, 72.7% and n=8). Inhibition of NOS (nitric oxide synthase) significantly reduced maximum endothelium-dependent dilation in controls but had no effect on arteries from UQ and GDM women, suggesting impaired NOS activity in these groups. Endothelium-independent dilation was unaffected in arteries from previous GDM and UQ women when compared with the control group. Multiple regression analysis suggested that BMI (body mass index) at biopsy was the most potent factor independently associated with small artery function, with no effect of current glycaemia. Overweight women with either GDM or marginally raised glycaemia during pregnancy (our UQ group) had normal vascular structure and stiffness, but clearly detectable progressively impaired endothelium-dependent function at 2 years follow-up. These results suggest that vascular pathology, which may still be reversible, is detectable very early in women at risk of decline into Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Regional arterial stress-strain distributions referenced to the zero-stress state in the rat

Morphometric and stress-strain properties were studied in isolated segments of the thoracic aorta, abdominal aorta, left common carotid artery, left femoral artery, and the left pulmonary artery in 16 male Wistar rats. The mechanical test was performed as a distension experiment where the proximal end of the arterial segment was connected via a tube to the container used for applying pressures to the segment and the distal end was left free. Outer wall dimensions were obtained from digitized images of the arterial segments at different pressures as well as at no-load and zero-stress states. The results showed that the morphometric data, such as inner and outer circumference, wall and lumen area, wall thickness, wall thickness-to-inner radius ratio, and normalized outer diameter, as a function of the applied pressures, differed between the five arteries (P < 0.01). The opening angle was largest in the pulmonary artery and smallest in thoracic aorta (P < 0.01). The absolute value of both the inner and outer residual strain and the residual strain gradient were largest in the femoral artery and smallest in the thoracic aorta (P < 0.01). In the circumferential and longitudinal direction, the arterial wall was stiffest in the femoral artery and in the thoracic aorta, respectively, and most compliant in the pulmonary artery. These results show that the morphometric and biomechanical properties referenced to the zero-stress state differed between the five arterial segments.