Measurement of cyclic microdeformation of arterial wall with pulsatile flow

The cyclic micro-deformation of the arterial wall with pulsatile flow was measured to get fundamental data for estimation of the mechanical stress in endothelial cells. The descending aorta (1-2 mm diameter) of an anesthetized rat was exposed under thoracotomy. The displacement measuring system was assembled with the charge coupled devise (CCD) of laser sensor. The movement of laser beam (670 nm wave length) reflected at the vessel wall was calibrated to the movement of the arterial wall. The fluctuating movement was also measured at four points marked on the vessel wall with CCD camera to distinguish the circumferential movement from the longitudinal one. The results showed that the present designed system has enough resolution to measure the arterial vessel wall cyclic-micro-fluctuation, which is 10 percent of diameter in the circumferential direction without deformation in the longitudinal direction with the cardiac beating in vivo.