Microscopic structura and mechanical properties of aorta and pulmonary artery

Introduction: This dissertation thesis consists of seven studies, the common aim of which was to describe the functional histology of the aorta and some of its branches, as well as the pulmonary artery. The thesis focuses on analysis of the microscopic composition of various segments of the porcine aorta during ontogenesis as an experimental model, as well as cryopreserved samples of human aorta, pulmonary artery and their valves. Further it assesses damage to the renal artery during its denervation, and evaluates cell colonization of synthetic vascular substitutes after their implantation into the abdominal aortas of mice. The introduction gives an overview of the structure of the aorta and pulmonary artery and their valves, selected diseases affecting large vessels, and histological and biomechanical methods used for their characterization. Methods: We used the paraffin section method with basic and advanced stains, immunohistochemical detection of antigens (α-smooth muscular actin, desmin, vimentin, chondroitin sulfate, von Willebrand factor, neurofilament protein, tyrosine hydroxylase) and biomechanical tests (uniaxial tensile tests) for determination of ultimate strain, ultimate stress and Young's modulus of elasticity. We used stereological methods based on the interaction of test grids of..