Connective tissue analysis of the canine circle of Willis in hypertension

The collagen and elastin contents of the major arterial components of the canine circle of Willis (basilar artery, posterior cerebral artery, internal carotid artery, middle cerebral artery, and anterior cerebral artery) were determined as measures of the passive mechanical properties of these vessels. Studies were carried out in seven normotensive dogs and seven dogs in which experimental renal hypertension of 3 months duration had been induced. In the normotensive animals, the collagen content of the middle cerebral artery exceeded that of the other vessels considered. The elastin content and the total connective tissue were not significantly affected by arterial site. The middle cerebral artery collagen to elastin ratio was greater than corresponding values for the basilar, posterior cerebral, and internal carotid arteries. Connective tissue differences were less pronounced in the hypertensive animals. No component of the canine circle of Willis in the hypertensive dogs showed a significantly different collagen content, elastin content, total connective tissue content, or collagen to elastin ratio. In comparing cerebral vessels from normotensive and hypertensive dogs, total connective tissue values were greater in hypertension for all arterial sites considered. These acute physiological changes in connective tissue content over small distances in intracranial blood vessels from normotensive animals, together with unique connective tissue responses of these vessels to short term hypertension, may suggest additional possible factors important in the natural history of cerebrovascular pathological conditions.