Cyclic twist and extension upon perfused vascular segments.
Vorp, David A., Donald A. Severyn, David L. Steed, and Marshall W.
Webster.
University of Pittsburgh Departments of Surgery and Mechanical
Engineering, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
APStracts 2:0343H, 1995.
Cyclic strain is known to influence many aspects of vascular cell
biology including macromolecular biosynthesis, cell proliferation and
cell morphology. The simulation of the cyclic strain associated with
the vasculature in-situ has been carried out mostly using devices
which manipulated flat membranes on which the cells of choice are
cultured. The purpose of this work was to create an apparatus wherein
cyclic strains consistent with those found in native blood vessels
could be applied to intact, three-dimensional (tubular) specimens
perfused ex-vivo. The cyclic strain protocols using our apparatus may
be any combination of axial stretch and twist. Concurrently, the
perfusion flow and shear stress are controlled as desired. Vessel
diameter, intraluminal pressure, volume flow and regional strain are
measured and stored on line. To illustrate the application of the
device, we present hemodynamic and kinematic data collected from a
human saphenous vein segment perfused under steady flow conditions
while subjected to cyclic stretch and twist.
Received 20 April 1995; accepted in final form 7 August 1995.
APS Manuscript Number H372-5.
Article publication pending Am. J. Physiol. (Heart Circ. Physiology).
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1995 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 14 August 1995.