LINKING PHYSICAL AORTIC VISCOELASTIC PROPERTIES TO ITS BIOLOGICAL COMPONENTS

In this thesis project the biomechanical properties of the aortic wall have been studied using an innovative apparatus named "ROTSAC" (Rodent Oscillatory Tension Set-up to study Arterial Compliance). Using the ROTSAC, aortic segments have been stretched at different pulse frequencies to investigate the change in their viscoelastic properties. Different aortic regions were assesed in parallel. Furthermore, Cytochalasin D (inhibitor of actin polymerization) and PP2 (inhibitor of focal adhesion kinase, FAK, phosphorylation), were used to investigate how the cell components modulate the viscoelastic properties. Lastly, the role of pulsatile stretch on the autophagic pathway has been studied as well.