Dimensions and wall force development capacity of human pial arteries from normotensives is not altered in obesity

The dimensions and maximum wall tension capacity of segments of human pial arteries from normotensive obese and non-obese patients were compared. Segment size was assessed by quantitative morphometry of fixed sections and wall force by in vitro myography. Twenty normotensive non-obese and 13 normotensive obese humans body mass index (BMI) 22.4+/-0.5 and 33.9+/-1.7 kg/m(2), respectively) were studied. There was no significant difference in the perimeter of the outer medial border, the smoothed out length of the internal elastic lamina, the ratios of media thickness to area and lumen diameter and the maximum wall force development between the two groups. Obesity per se is not associated with initial dimensional changes nor capacity to develop wall tension that might lead to the emergence of hypertension.