Rheological properties of the thoracic aorta in normal and WHHL rabbits

The tension-strain, stress-strain and stress relaxation curves of longitudinal and circumferential strips of proximal thoracic aortas in normal and WHHL rabbits of different ages were determined using a tensile testing instrument. Wall distensibility of longitudinal and circumferential strips was the greatest in the normal aorta and decreased with advancing age in the atherosclerotic aorta. The wall thickness of the atherosclerotic aorta was positively related to age with a correlation coefficient of 0.66 (p<0.01). The incremental elastic moduli calculated from the stress-strain curves increased with advancing age in the atherosclerotic aorta. Accordingly, the decreased distensibility of the atherosclerotic wall may be due to the increased wall thickness caused by the intimal thickening as well as to the increase in wall stiffness caused by the increased elastic modulus. The viscoelasticity of the atherosclerotic aorta was larger than that of the normal aorta. This reflects the mechanical effect of atherosclerotic changes that occurred in the thickened intima.