부산대학교 도서관

Changes in micro vascular morphology have been reported in subcutaneous arteries from hypertensive (HT), diabetic, hypertensive and diabetic and normotensive (NT) patients. To date there have been no studies examining the structure of isolated human coronary resistance arteries. We isolated human coronary resistance arteries taken from the left atrial appendage taken at the time of coronary artery bypass graft surgery in NT (n = 12) and HT (n = 32) patients.Arteries were studied in vitro using a pressure arteriograph system to quantify their structural characteristics. They were pressurized to 60 mmHg. Following equilibration all vessels studied was exposed to calcium free PSS and a pressure curve (3mmHg–100mmHg) was performed. Lumen diameter and wall thickness were measured and wall:lumen ratio and cross sectional area were calculated. Values are expressed as mean (+/− SEM). Data were analysed using 2 way ANOVA and unpaired t tests.Blood pressure of treated hypertensive patients (138/78mmHg) was similar to that of normotensive (138/76mmHg) patients. There was no significant differences (P = 0.6) in diameter, HN 128(7)μm vs NT 120(12)μm and wall:lumen ratio HN 28(3) vs NT 33(5) at 60mmHg. The stress strain relationship (Fig ) was significantly shifted (P < 0.05) to the left in arteries from hypertensive patients compared to those from normotensive patients.These results demonstrate that hypertension increases arterial stiffness but successful control of blood pressure may prevent hypertension associated structural changes.