Cardiovascular tissue remodeling at multiple length scales

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dc.contributor.advisorDi Martino, Elena
dc.contributor.authorBellini, Chiara
dc.date.accessioned2017-12-18T22:35:52Z
dc.date.available2017-12-18T22:35:52Z
dc.date.issued2012
dc.descriptionBibliography: p. 192-200en
dc.descriptionSome pages are in colour.en
dc.descriptionIncludes copy of animal protocol approval and copyright permissions. Original copies with original Partial Copyright Licence.en
dc.description.abstractThe human body is a biological system composed of elements organized into levels of increasing complexity. A common rule seems to hold true across length scales, which relates the structure of biological systems with the function they perform. Stimuli of different origin may create imbalances in the structure-function relationship and promote a growth and remodeling cascade to restore preferred form and function (homeostatic condition). Clinical relevance of remodeling studies stems from the in­terpretation of many diseases as the result of an adverse remodeling process. In this thesis different aspects of the remodeling process that occurs in the cardiovascular system will be analyzed at three levels of magnification: organ, tissue and microstruc­tural components. The effect of atrial fibrillation on left atrium mechanics was investigated at the or­gan and tissue levels. Dynamic CT scans were used to generate a computational model of the porcine left atrium, which was not limited to the organ itself but also included fine anatomical features of the structures that guide and constraint its movement throughout the cardiac cycle, such as pericardium, pulmonary veins and mitral valve annulus. Computational results seem to suggest that a stress-mediated mechanism contributes to the onset and progression of atrial fibrillation. The regional mechanical behavior of tissues in the atria was assessed on excised specimens by means of planar biaxial tests, while polarized light microscopy was used to determine the dominant orientation of cardiomyocytes. Mechanical and microscopy measurements were then combined to fit constitutive relationships consistent with the microstructure. The development of atrial fibrillation was documented to promote stiffening of the me­chanical response and thickening of the wall, both effects contributing to decrease tissue deformability. Finally, the contribution of microstructural constituents ( collagen fibers, elastic material and smooth muscle cells) in supporting the mechanical loads applied to the wall of large, conduit arteries was investigated. Pressure-diameter tests were per­formed on murine carotid arteries from wild-type and genetically-modified mice to record the tissue mechanical response. Histological assays were used to evaluate the relative abundance of constituents in the vascular wall. A structurally-motivated con­stitutive relationship was fitted to the mechanical data and fed to a numerical model, which was able to predict the redistribution of stresses among the main components of the arterial tissue in response to a perturbation of the external loads. The pro­posed model can be used to assess how the microstructural reorganization associated with the progression of specific diseases affects the mechanical loads supported by individual constituents.
dc.format.extentxxi, 204 leaves : ill. ; 30 cm.en
dc.identifier.citationBellini, C. (2012). Cardiovascular tissue remodeling at multiple length scales (Doctoral thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/4978en_US
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/4978
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1880/105979
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Calgaryen
dc.publisher.placeCalgaryen
dc.rightsUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.
dc.titleCardiovascular tissue remodeling at multiple length scales
dc.typedoctoral thesis
thesis.degree.disciplineBiomedical Engineering
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Calgary
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophy (PhD)
ucalgary.item.requestcopytrue
ucalgary.thesis.accessionTheses Collection 58.002:Box 2102 627942972
ucalgary.thesis.notesUARCen
ucalgary.thesis.uarcreleaseyen
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