FIGURE 4.
Summary of the outcomes of studies that explored the impact of endothelial denudation on conduit artery functional and structural responses. Endothelial removal has typically been achieved using intra-arterial balloon inflation. In endothelium intact arteries, increases in flow and shear induce dilation in the dog hindlimb [From Pohl et al. (246), with permission from American Heart Association], coronary arteries [From Berdeaux et al. (21), with permission from American Heart Association] and the human radial artery [From Dawson et al. (61)]. All functional and structural adaptive responses are abolished or attenuated in the absence of an intact endothelial layer. Remodeling of rabbit carotid arteries in response to chronic decreases in flow and shear induced using unilateral ligation is also endothelium dependent [From Langille and O'Donnell (167), with permission from American Heart Association]. These studies highlight the importance of the endothelium in the mediation of (acute and chronic) changes in diameter.