Effect of intermittent blood pressure elevation on the growth of experimental saccular aneurysms in the rat.

In this study we applied the technique described in the previous paper (see pp. 103-106 of previous issue (1991); 13(2)) to rats with experimental saccular aneurysms. We found that the mean sizes and some growth ratios of experimental aneurysms were significantly larger in the intermittent blood pressure elevation groups than in the control groups. The increase of growth ratios was proportional to the number of transient blood pressure elevations. The morphological structure of these saccular aneurysms showed that the regenerative processes in the aneurysm wall had obviously been interfered with in animals with intermittent blood pressure elevation. The effective mechanism of this influential factor is discussed.