The mechanical response of intact blood vessels to applied loads can be delineated into passive and active components using an isometric decomposition approach. Whereas the passive response is due predominantly to the extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins and amorphous ground substance, the active response depends on the presence of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and the contractile machinery activated within those cells. To better understand determinants of active stress generation within the vascular wall, we subjected porcine common carotid arteries (CCAs) to biaxial inflation–extension testing under maximally contracted or passive SMC conditions and semiquantitatively measured two known markers of the contractile SMC phenotype: smoothelin and smooth muscle-myosin heavy chain (SM-MHC). Using isometric decomposition and established constitutive models, an intuitive but novel correlation between the magnitude of active stress generation and the relative abundance of smoothelin and SM-MHC emerged. Our results reiterate the importance of stretch-dependent active stress generation to the total mechanical response. Overall these findings can be used to decouple the mechanical contribution of SMCs from the ECM and is therefore a powerful tool in the analysis of disease states and potential therapies where both constituent are altered.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
January 2018
Technical Briefs
Contractile Smooth Muscle and Active Stress Generation in Porcine Common Carotids
Boran Zhou,
Boran Zhou
Department of Radiology,
Mayo Clinic College of Medicine,
Rochester, MN 55905
Mayo Clinic College of Medicine,
Rochester, MN 55905
Search for other works by this author on:
David A. Prim,
David A. Prim
College of Engineering and Computing, Biomedical
Engineering Program,
University of South Carolina,
Columbia, SC 29208
Engineering Program,
University of South Carolina,
Columbia, SC 29208
Search for other works by this author on:
Eva J. Romito,
Eva J. Romito
College of Engineering and Computing, Biomedical
Engineering Program,
University of South Carolina,
Columbia, SC 29208;
Cardiovascular Translational Research Center,
University of South Carolina,
Columbia, SC 29208
Engineering Program,
University of South Carolina,
Columbia, SC 29208;
Cardiovascular Translational Research Center,
University of South Carolina,
Columbia, SC 29208
Search for other works by this author on:
Liam P. McNamara,
Liam P. McNamara
College of Engineering and Computing, Biomedical
Engineering Program,
University of South Carolina,
Columbia, SC 29208
Engineering Program,
University of South Carolina,
Columbia, SC 29208
Search for other works by this author on:
Francis G. Spinale,
Francis G. Spinale
Cardiovascular Translational Research Center,
University of South Carolina,
Columbia, SC 29208;
School of Medicine, Department of Cell Biology
and Anatomy,
University of South Carolina,
Columbia, SC 29208
University of South Carolina,
Columbia, SC 29208;
School of Medicine, Department of Cell Biology
and Anatomy,
University of South Carolina,
Columbia, SC 29208
Search for other works by this author on:
Tarek Shazly,
Tarek Shazly
College of Engineering and Computing, Biomedical
Engineering Program,
University of South Carolina,
Columbia, SC 29208;
College of Engineering and Computing,
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of South Carolina,
Columbia, SC 29208
Engineering Program,
University of South Carolina,
Columbia, SC 29208;
College of Engineering and Computing,
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of South Carolina,
Columbia, SC 29208
Search for other works by this author on:
John F. Eberth
John F. Eberth
College of Engineering and Computing,
Biomedical Engineering Program,
University of South Carolina,
Columbia, SC 29208;
School of Medicine, Department of Cell Biology
and Anatomy,
University of South Carolina,
Columbia, SC 29208
e-mail: john.eberth@uscmed.sc.edu
Biomedical Engineering Program,
University of South Carolina,
Columbia, SC 29208;
School of Medicine, Department of Cell Biology
and Anatomy,
University of South Carolina,
Columbia, SC 29208
e-mail: john.eberth@uscmed.sc.edu
Search for other works by this author on:
Boran Zhou
Department of Radiology,
Mayo Clinic College of Medicine,
Rochester, MN 55905
Mayo Clinic College of Medicine,
Rochester, MN 55905
David A. Prim
College of Engineering and Computing, Biomedical
Engineering Program,
University of South Carolina,
Columbia, SC 29208
Engineering Program,
University of South Carolina,
Columbia, SC 29208
Eva J. Romito
College of Engineering and Computing, Biomedical
Engineering Program,
University of South Carolina,
Columbia, SC 29208;
Cardiovascular Translational Research Center,
University of South Carolina,
Columbia, SC 29208
Engineering Program,
University of South Carolina,
Columbia, SC 29208;
Cardiovascular Translational Research Center,
University of South Carolina,
Columbia, SC 29208
Liam P. McNamara
College of Engineering and Computing, Biomedical
Engineering Program,
University of South Carolina,
Columbia, SC 29208
Engineering Program,
University of South Carolina,
Columbia, SC 29208
Francis G. Spinale
Cardiovascular Translational Research Center,
University of South Carolina,
Columbia, SC 29208;
School of Medicine, Department of Cell Biology
and Anatomy,
University of South Carolina,
Columbia, SC 29208
University of South Carolina,
Columbia, SC 29208;
School of Medicine, Department of Cell Biology
and Anatomy,
University of South Carolina,
Columbia, SC 29208
Tarek Shazly
College of Engineering and Computing, Biomedical
Engineering Program,
University of South Carolina,
Columbia, SC 29208;
College of Engineering and Computing,
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of South Carolina,
Columbia, SC 29208
Engineering Program,
University of South Carolina,
Columbia, SC 29208;
College of Engineering and Computing,
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of South Carolina,
Columbia, SC 29208
John F. Eberth
College of Engineering and Computing,
Biomedical Engineering Program,
University of South Carolina,
Columbia, SC 29208;
School of Medicine, Department of Cell Biology
and Anatomy,
University of South Carolina,
Columbia, SC 29208
e-mail: john.eberth@uscmed.sc.edu
Biomedical Engineering Program,
University of South Carolina,
Columbia, SC 29208;
School of Medicine, Department of Cell Biology
and Anatomy,
University of South Carolina,
Columbia, SC 29208
e-mail: john.eberth@uscmed.sc.edu
1Corresponding author.
Manuscript received May 17, 2017; final manuscript received September 14, 2017; published online November 9, 2017. Assoc. Editor: Guy M. Genin.
J Biomech Eng. Jan 2018, 140(1): 014501 (6 pages)
Published Online: November 9, 2017
Article history
Received:
May 17, 2017
Revised:
September 14, 2017
Citation
Zhou, B., Prim, D. A., Romito, E. J., McNamara, L. P., Spinale, F. G., Shazly, T., and Eberth, J. F. (November 9, 2017). "Contractile Smooth Muscle and Active Stress Generation in Porcine Common Carotids." ASME. J Biomech Eng. January 2018; 140(1): 014501. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4037949
Download citation file:
Get Email Alerts
Cited By
Related Articles
Reduced Biaxial Contractility in the Descending Thoracic Aorta of Fibulin-5 Deficient Mice
J Biomech Eng (May,2016)
A Finite Element Bendo-Tensegrity Model of Eukaryotic Cell
J Biomech Eng (October,2018)
Cellular Microbiaxial Stretching to Measure a Single-Cell Strain Energy Density Function
J Biomech Eng (July,2017)
2016 Richard Skalak Award
J Biomech Eng (February,2017)
Related Proceedings Papers
Related Chapters
Vibration Analysis of the Seated Human Body in Vertical Direction
International Conference on Computer Technology and Development, 3rd (ICCTD 2011)
Basic Concepts
Design & Analysis of ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Components in the Creep Range
Basic Features
Structural Shear Joints: Analyses, Properties and Design for Repeat Loading