AJP - Heart and Circulatory Physiology, Vol 246, Issue 1 97-103, Copyright © 1984 by American Physiological Society
Effects of chronic cigarette smoking on canine arteries
R. H. Cox, T. Tulenko and W. P. Santamore
Segments of carotid and femoral arteries were obtained from beagles
subjected to cigarette smoking (12/day for 2 yr) and from unexposed
controls. The segments were used for in vitro studies of active and passive
mechanics, dose responses to norepinephrine (NE) and K+, connective tissue
content, and water and electrolyte content and distribution. No significant
differences in passive arterial wall mechanics or geometry at 100 mmHg were
found, but a small (significant) increase in passive stiffness was found at
wall loads corresponding to higher values of pressure for arteries from
smokers. No significant changes in connective tissue composition were found
at either site. No significant differences in maximum active force
development were found at either site between the two groups. However,
values of active force near the middle of the active force-length curve
were lower (P less than 0.05) for smoker's arteries when expressed as a
fraction of the maximum developed force. No differences in cell volume were
found in arteries from the two groups. Mg2+ and K+ content of the femoral
and Ca2+ content of both arteries were greater in the smokers. No
difference in NE dose-response relations were found for either site. A
statistically significant decrease in responsiveness to K+ was found for
femoral arteries from smokers, but not for the carotids. The results of
these studies demonstrate that some significant changes in arterial wall
properties occur in beagle dogs exposed to chronic cigarette smoke.
