Tension-velocity relationships in hypertensive mesenteric resistance arteries.

Increased total peripheral resistance is the cardinal haemodynamic disorder in essential hypertension. This could be secondary to alterations in the mechanical properties of vascular smooth muscle. Adequate study has not been made of the tension-velocity (T-V) relationship in hypertensive resistance arterial smooth muscle. Increased narrowing in such arteries would result in increased resistance. The objectives of this investigation were to determine whether there is (i) increased narrowing capacity (-delta C/C omicron, where C stands for arterial internal circumference and C omicron is the optimal arterial internal circumference for maximum tension development); (ii) an increased maximum velocity of isobaric narrowing (Vmax) measured in C omicron per second; (iii) an increased wall thickness (h); and (iv) an increased active stress development (Tmax) in the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR; n = 5) compared with the normotensive Wistar Kyoto (WKY; n = 5) and MK-421 (an angiotensin I converting enzyme inhibitor) treated spontaneously hypertensive rat (MK-421 trt. SHR; n = 5) mesenteric resistance (diameter, less than 300 micron) arteries. Analysis of the data for arteries constricting isobarically against a range of pressures revealed that (a) the SHR -deltaC/C omicron values at pressures ranging from 20 to 120 mmHg (1 mmHg = 133.322 Pa) showed significantly increased narrowing compared with the MK-421 trt. SHR and WKY -deltaC/C omicron values in this same pressure range (p less than 0.01), and (b) the SHR derived Vmax of 0.83 +/- 0.08 C omicron/s was significantly faster than either the MK-421 trt.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)