Experimental Setting for Applying Mechanical Stimuli to Study the Endothelial Response of Ex Vivo Vessels under Realistic Pathophysiological Environments.

Osuna A, Ulldemolins A, Sanz-Fraile H, Otero J, Farré N, Farré R, Almendros I.

Life (Basel). 2021 Jul 8;11(7):671. doi: 10.3390/life11070671

 

ABSTRACT

Background: This paper describes the design, construction and testing of an experimental setting, making it possible to study the endothelium under different pathophysiological conditions. Methods: This novel experimental approach allows the application of the following stimuli to an ex vivo vessel in a physiological bath: (a) a realistic intravascular pressure waveform defined by the user; (b) shear stress in the endothelial layer since, in addition to the pressure waveform, the flow through the vessel can be independently controlled by the user; (c) conditions of hypo/hyperoxia and hypo/hypercapnia in an intravascular circulating medium. Results: These stimuli can be applied alone or in different combinations to study possible synergistic or antagonistic effects. The setting performance is illustrated by a proof of concept in an ex vivo rabbit aorta. Conclusions: The experimental setting is easy to build by using very low-cost materials widely available. Online Supplement files provide all the technical information (e.g., circuits, codes, 3D printer drivers) following an open-source hardware approach for free replication.