The Effect of Cholesterol Feeding on the Distensibility of the Isolated Thoracic Aorta of the Rabbit

The descending thoracic aortas of control and cholesterol fed rabbits were dissected out. These aortas were used to prepare tension–length diagrams. Cholesterol feeding increased the distensibility at pressures up to 70 mm. Hg, but at pressures above this value no significant change is produced. Cholesterol feeding increases the resistance of the aorta to collapse, i.e. the longer the cholesterol feeding is continued, the greater the magnitude of the negative pressure required to make the vessel segment collapse.