Effect of Hypertension on Elasticity and Geometry of Aortic Tissue From Dogs

Inflation-extension experiments were carried out on segments of the descending thoracic aortas from 4 normotensive and 4 hypertensive dogs rendered hypertensive using either unilateral or bilateral renal artery constriction. Intravascular pressures up to 200 mm Hg and axial forces up to 200 g were used. The external diameter of the segment and the distance between two longitudinally spaced gage marks were recorded photographically at each pressure-force level combination. Dimensions in the undeformed configuration were measured at the end of the inflation-extension experiment