Abstract
The stability of arteries is essential to normal arterial functions and loss of stability can lead to arterial tortuosity and kinking. Collagen is a main extracellular matrix component that modulates the mechanical properties of arteries and collagen degradation at pathological conditions weakens the mechanical strength of arteries. However, the effects of collagen degradation on the mechanical stability of arteries are unclear. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of collagen degradation on the critical buckling pressure of arteries. Arterial specimens were subjected to pressurized inflation testing and fitted with nonlinear thick-walled cylindrical model equations to determine their stress strain relationships. The arteries were then tested for the critical buckling pressure at a set of axial stretch ratios. Then, arteries were divided into three groups and treated with Type III collagenase at three different concentrations (64, 128, and 400 U/ml). Mechanical properties and buckling pressures of the arteries were determined after collagenase treatment. Additionally, the theoretical buckling pressures were also determined using a buckling equation. Our results demonstrated that the buckling pressure of arteries was lower after collagenase treatment. The difference between pre- and post- treatment was statistically significant for the highest concentration of 400U/ml but not at the lower concentrations. The buckling equation was found to yield a fair estimation to the experimental critical pressure measurements. These results shed light on the role of matrix remodeling on the mechanical stability of arteries and developments of tortuous arteries.