BACKGROUND Although many studies have shown that arteries change diameter in response to chronic change in blood flow (BF), keeping wall shear stress (WSS) at physiologically normal levels, relatively little is known about the effects of flow restoration after flow reduction and also the role of vascular smooth muscle (VSM) during such a remodeling process. OBJECTIVE To elucidate the biomechanical responses of the arterial wall to the restoration of normal BF after flow reduction and compare the results with our previous results observed in response to decreased BF alone. METHODS Carotid artery BF in the Wistar rat was decreased by ligation and then restored to normal levels by release of the ligation. The effects of BF changes on the biomechanical properties of the carotid arterial wall were determined from measurements of diameters and pressures of excised artery segments. RESULTS During BF reduction and restoration, WSS was maintained at physiological levels by changes in the internal diameter. No significant changes in the incremental elastic modulus were found in response to changes in BF. VSM tone was significantly enhanced during the changes in BF. CONCLUSIONS Arteries change diameters in response to BF reduction and also flow restoration to normal after flow reduction, keeping WSS at physiologically normal levels. The lack of changes in vascular elasticity suggests that there were no significant changes in major wall constituents, such as elastin and collagen. VSM may play the dominant role in observed arterial remodeling and adaptation.

中文翻译：

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动脉壁重塑：减少流量后对正常血流恢复的响应。

背景技术尽管许多研究表明，动脉响应于慢性血流（BF）的变化而改变直径，将壁切应力（WSS）保持在生理正常水平，但对减少流量后血流恢复的影响知之甚少。血管平滑肌（VSM）在这种重塑过程中的作用。目的阐明减少流量后动脉壁对正常BF恢复的生物力学反应，并将结果与​​我们先前对仅BF降低的观察结果进行比较。方法结扎Wistar大鼠的颈动脉BF降低，然后通过结扎恢复至正常水平。高炉改变对颈动脉壁生物力学特性的影响是通过测量切除的动脉段的直径和压力来确定的。结果在高炉还原和恢复过程中，WSS通过内径变化保持在生理水平。响应于BF的变化，未发现增量弹性模量的显着变化。在BF变化期间，VSM音调显着增强。结论流量减少后，动脉直径发生改变，并且流量减少后血流恢复正常，从而使WSS保持在生理正常水平。血管弹性缺乏变化，表明主要壁成分如弹性蛋白和胶原蛋白没有明显变化。