From the Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, University of New
South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
Correspondence to A/Prof A. Avolio, Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney NSW 2052, Australia. E-mail a.avolio{at}unsw.edu.au
Abstract
Abstract—The structure of medial
elastin determines arterial function and affects wall
mechanical properties. The aim of this study was to (1) characterize
the structure of elastin in terms of textural features, (2) relate
structural parameters to total number of cardiac cycles
(TC), and (3) determine the contribution of medial elastin to lumen
mechanical stress. Images of pressure-fixed aortic sections stained for
elastin were obtained from specimens collected postmortem from 35
animals of different species with a wide range of age, heart rate, and
TC and divided into 2 groups:
TClow=3.69±0.38x108 (n=17) and
TChigh=15.8±2.38x108 (n=18)
(P<0.001). A directional fractal curve was generated
for each image, and image texture was characterized by directional
fractal curve parameters. Elastin volume fraction and
interlamellar distance were obtained by image analysis. Wall
stress distribution was determined from a finite element model of the
arterial wall with multiple layers simulating elastin
lamellae. DFC amplitude was related to elastin volume fraction.
Increased TC (TClow versus TChigh) was
associated with lower directional fractal curve amplitude (0.23±0.02
versus 0.14±0.02; P<0.001), reduced elastin volume
fraction (36.5±2.6% versus 25.7±2.1%; P<0.01), and
increased interlamellar distance (8.5±0.5 versus 11.5±1.0 µm;
P<0.05). Loss of medial elastic function increased
pressure-dependent maximal circumferential stress. Structural
alterations of medial elastin, quantified by fractal
parameters, are associated with cumulative effects of
repeated pulsations due to the combined contribution of age and heart
rate. Loss of medial functional elasticity increases luminal wall
stress, increasing the possibility of endothelial
damage and predisposition to atherosclerosis.
© 1998 American Heart Association, Inc.
Third Workshop on Structure and Function of Large Arteries: Part I
Quantification of Alterations in Structure and Function of Elastin in the Arterial Media
Key Words: fractals • stress, mechanical • fatigue • aging
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