BACKGROUND Arterial function is regulated by estrogen, but no consistent pattern of arterial mechanical remodeling in response to depleted estrogen levels is available. OBJECTIVE To examine long-term effects of ovariectomy (OVX) on the mechanical properties, morphology, and histological structure of the carotid artery in middle-aged rats and a potentially protective effect of Sideritis euboea extract (SID), commonly consumed as "mountain tea". METHODS 10-month-old female Wistar rats were allocated into control (sham-operated), OVX, OVX+SID, and OVX+MALT (maltodextrin; excipient used for dilution of SID) groups. They were sacrificed after 6 months and their carotid arteries were submitted to inflation/extension tests and to dimensional and histological evaluation. RESULTS Remodeling in OVX rats was characterized by a decreased in situ axial extension ratio, along with increased opening angle, thickness, and area of the vessel wall and of its medial layer, but unchanged lumen diameter. Compositional changes involved increased elastin/collagen densities. Characterization by the "four-fiber" microstructure-motivated model revealed similar in situ biaxial response of carotid arteries in OVX and control rats. CONCLUSIONS Carotid artery remodeling in OVX rats was largely consistent with hypertensive remodeling, despite the minor arterial pressure changes found, and was not altered by administration of SID, despite previous evidence of its osteo-protective effect.

中文翻译：

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卵巢切除术和紫茎泽兰提取物对中年大鼠大动脉力学，形态和结构的影响。

背景技术动脉功能受雌激素调节，但是没有响应于耗尽的雌激素水平的一致的动脉机械重塑模式。目的探讨卵巢切除术（OVX）对中年大鼠颈动脉的机械特性，形态和组织结构的长期影响，以及常被称为“山茶”的鹰嘴豆提取物（SID）的潜在保护作用。 ”。方法将10个月大的Wistar雌性大鼠分为对照组（假手术），OVX，OVX + SID和OVX + MALT（麦芽糖糊精；用于稀释SID的赋形剂）组。6个月后将其处死，并将其颈动脉进行充气/伸展试验以及尺寸和组织学评估。结果OVX大鼠重塑的特征是原位轴向延伸率降低，血管壁及其中层的开角，厚度和面积增加，但管腔直径未改变。组成变化涉及增加的弹性蛋白/胶原蛋白密度。通过“四纤维”微观结构驱动的模型进行的表征揭示了OVX和对照大鼠中颈动脉的原位双轴反应相似。结论OVX大鼠的颈动脉重塑在很大程度上与高血压重塑相一致，尽管发现了轻微的动脉压变化，尽管先前有证据表明其具有骨保护作用，但通过SID给药并没有改变。但管腔直径不变。组成变化涉及增加的弹性蛋白/胶原蛋白密度。通过“四纤维”微观结构驱动的模型进行的表征揭示了OVX和对照大鼠中颈动脉的原位双轴反应相似。结论OVX大鼠的颈动脉重塑在很大程度上与高血压重塑相一致，尽管发现了轻微的动脉压变化，尽管先前有证据表明其具有骨保护作用，但通过SID给药并没有改变。但管腔直径不变。组成变化涉及增加的弹性蛋白/胶原蛋白密度。通过“四纤维”微观结构驱动的模型进行的表征揭示了OVX和对照大鼠中颈动脉的原位双轴反应相似。结论OVX大鼠的颈动脉重塑在很大程度上与高血压重塑相一致，尽管发现了轻微的动脉压变化，尽管先前有证据表明其具有骨保护作用，但通过SID给药并没有改变。