Adaptation to 5 weeks of intermittent local vascular pressure increments; mechanisms to be considered in the development of primary hypertension?

Abstract

Adaptive responses to arterial/arteriolar pressure elevation have typically been investigated in cross-sectional studies in hypertensive patients or in longitudinal studies in experimental animals. The present investigation shows that in healthy individuals, fifteen 40-min, carefully controlled, moderate transmural pressure elevations markedly increase in vivo stiffness (i.e. reduce pressure distension) in arteries and arterioles. The response is mediated via local mechanisms, and it appears that endothelin-1, angiotensin-II, and matrix metalloproteinase 7 may have key roles.