Effects of aging on mechanics and composition of cerebral arterioles in rats

M. A HAJDU; D. D HEISTAD; J. E SIEMS; G. L BAUMBACH

doi:10.1161/01.RES.66.6.1747

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Effects of aging on mechanics and composition of cerebral arterioles in rats

Journal article

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Peer reviewed

Effects of aging on mechanics and composition of cerebral arterioles in rats

M. A HAJDU, D. D HEISTAD, J. E SIEMS and G. L BAUMBACH

Circulation research, Vol.66(6), pp.1747-1754

1990

DOI: 10.1161/01.RES.66.6.1747

PMID: 2344672

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine effects of aging on the mechanics and composition of cerebral arterioles. We measured pressure (servo-null) and diameter in pial arterioles in anesthetized adult (9-12 months old) and aged (24-27 months old) Fischer 344 rats. After deactivation of smooth muscle with EDTA, diameter of pial arterioles at 70 mm Hg pial arteriolar pressure was less in aged than in adult rats (67 +/- 4 vs. 81 +/- 4 microns [mean +/- SEM], p less than 0.05). The stress-strain relation and the slope of tangential elastic modulus versus stress (6.8 +/- 0.6 vs. 5.3 +/- 0.3, p less than 0.05) indicated that distensibility of pial arterioles was reduced in aged rats. Cross-sectional area of the vessel wall, measured histologically, was less in aged than adult rats (1,239 +/- 91 vs. 1,832 +/- 180 microns2, p less than 0.05). Point counting stereology was used to quantitate smooth muscle, elastin, collagen, and basement membrane in the arteriolar wall. Cross-sectional areas of smooth muscle and elastin were significantly less in aged than adult rats (744 +/- 57 vs. 1,291 +/- 119 microns2 for smooth muscle, 52 +/- 6 vs. 113 +/- 15 microns2 for elastin; p less than 0.05), whereas cross-sectional areas of collagen and basement membrane were not significantly different in aged and adult rats (4 +/- 1 vs. 3 +/- 1 microns2 for collagen, 236 +/- 17 vs. 258 +/- 31 microns2 for basement membrane). The ratio of nondistensible (collagen and basement membrane) to distensible (smooth muscle and elastin) components was greater in aged than adult rats (0.30 +/- 0.01 vs. 0.18 +/- 0.01, p less than 0.05). Thus, we conclude that, during aging, cerebral arterioles undergo atrophy, distensibility of cerebral arterioles is reduced, and the relative proportion of distensible elements, elastin and smooth muscle, is reduced in the arteriolar wall.

Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology

Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs

Biological and medical sciences

Cerebral circulation. Blood-brain barrier. Choroid plexus. Cerebrospinal fluid. Circumventricular organ. Meninges

Details

Title: Subtitle: Effects of aging on mechanics and composition of cerebral arterioles in rats
Creators: M. A HAJDU - Univ. Iowa coll. medicine, cardiovascular cent., dep. pathology, Iowa City IA 52242, United States
D. D HEISTAD - Univ. Iowa coll. medicine, cardiovascular cent., dep. pathology, Iowa City IA 52242, United States
J. E SIEMS - Univ. Iowa coll. medicine, cardiovascular cent., dep. pathology, Iowa City IA 52242, United States
G. L BAUMBACH - Univ. Iowa coll. medicine, cardiovascular cent., dep. pathology, Iowa City IA 52242, United States
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Circulation research, Vol.66(6), pp.1747-1754
DOI: 10.1161/01.RES.66.6.1747
PMID: 2344672
NLM abbreviation: Circ Res
ISSN: 0009-7330
eISSN: 1524-4571
Publisher: Lippincott; Hagerstown, MD
Language: English
Date published: 1990
Academic Unit: Pathology; Cardiovascular Medicine; Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center; Neuroscience and Pharmacology; Internal Medicine
Record Identifier: 9984040570602771

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