Viscoelastic behavior of the thoracic aorta of dogs and rabbits.

Data are presented which demonstrate no correlation between atrial electrical activity and diameter changes in the descending thoracic aorta of dogs or rabbits. The experiments conducted included bypassing a segment of the descending thoracic aorta in dogs, and production of a variety of arrhythmias without the bypass in dogs and rabbits. We found no evidence of electrical stimulation-induced phasic activity as suggested by other authors.