Smooth Muscle Relaxation

• DOI: 10.1161/01.hyp.32.2.356
• Publication Date: 2012-06-12T00:53:46Z
• Authors: Alan J. Bank; Daniel R. Kaiser
• Keywords: Brachial artery

Abstract —Compliance, distensibility, incremental elastic modulus (E inc ), and pulse wave velocity are all terms used to describe the mechanical properties of arteries. Previous studies assessing effects smooth muscle relaxation on each these parameters have produced conflicting results. Our laboratory has previously demonstrated that intrabrachial infusion nitroglycerin in normal human subjects results a large increase brachial artery compliance without changing arterial wall stiffness as measured by E . In present study, relationships among compliance, , under different levels vascular tone shown using data acquired intravascular ultrasound well theoretical curves. We demonstrate can be depicted 2 separate steps: (1) rightward shift new curve describing relationship between above is solely due changes vessel geometry (2) along dependent stiffness.