Length-passive tension relationships in cerebral and peripheral arteries isolated from spontaneously hypertensive and normotensive rats.

The length-passive tension relationship was compared in helically-cut strips of the basilar, renal and mesenteric arteries and the aorta isolated from Kyoto Wistar (WKY) rats and stroke-resistant (SHRSR) and stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP). Passive tension developed by the same magnitude of rapid stretch was greater in basilar arteries than in the other arteries and aortae. The length-tension curve shifted toward the tension axis in basilar arteries and aortae isolated from SHRSP as compared with those isolated from WKY, whereas the curves in mesenteric and renal arteries from SHRSP, SHRSR and WKY were not significantly different. It is concluded that the distensibility of various arteries isolated from rats differs, and the cerebral artery becomes less distensible during the persistence of hypertension and the rat become prone to stroke.