Quantification of the regional bioarchitecture in the human aorta.

Quantification of the regional bioarchitecture in the human aorta.
J Anat. 2019 Sep 11;:
Authors: Concannon J, Dockery P, Black A, Sultan S, Hynes N, McHugh PE, Moerman KM, McGarry JP
Abstract
Regional variance in human aortic bioarchitecture responsible for the elasticity of the vessel is poorly understood. The current study quantifies the elements responsible for aortic compliance, namely, elastin, collagen and smooth muscle cells, using histological and stereological techniques on human tissue with a focus on regional heterogeneity. Using donated cadaveric tissue, a series of samples were excised between the proximal ascending aorta and the distal abdominal aorta, for five cadavers, each of which underwent various staining procedures to enhance specific constituents of the wall. Using polarised light microscopy techniques, the orientation of collagen fibres was studied for each location and each tunical layer of the aorta. Significant transmural and longitudinal heterogeneity in collagen fibre orientations were uncovered throughout the vessel. It is shown that a von Mises mixture model is required accurately to fit the complex collagen fibre distributions that exist along the aorta. Additionally, collagen and smooth muscle cell density was observed to increase with increasing distance from the heart, whereas elastin density decreased. Evidence clearly demonstrates that the aorta is a highly heterogeneous vessel which cannot be sim...

Source: Journal of Anatomy - September 10, 2019 Category: Anatomy Authors: Concannon J, Dockery P, Black A, Sultan S, Hynes N, McHugh PE, Moerman KM, McGarry JP Tags: J Anat Source Type: research