Pressure dependence of the mechanical properties of arteries in vivo

Simultaneously measurements of intra-arterial pressure and external diameter were recorded from the thoracic and abdominal aortas, the carotid, brachiocephalic, left subclavian, and femoral arteries of anesthetized dogs. Data were recorded under control conditions and during efferent vagal stimulation, and were used to compute values of wall geometry, mechanical properties, phase velocity, and characteristic impedance. Values of these parameters computed for both control and vagal stimulation were used to represent their dependence on mean arterial pressure. Both the dynamic elastic modulus and the phase velocity increased with mean pressure at each arterial site. Values of computed characteristic impedance were constant and independent of mean arterial pressure between 80--150 mmHg. The tropical application of norepinephrine (100 mug/ml) to the femoral artery produced no change in mean pressure, while external diameter and dynamic modulus were decreased, and characteristic impedance was increased. These results provide direct support for the conclusion of previous studies on vascular impedance spectra which suggested a constancy of characteristic impedance with changes in mean arterial pressure.