Segments of carotid, iliac, renal, mesenteric, coronary, and internal thoracic arteries were studied in vitro to correlate the mechanical properties of series (SE) and parallel (PE) elastic elements with connective tissue (CT) composition and with active responses to potassium activation. The PE properties were determined using pressure-diameter data with passive smooth muscle (SM). SE properties were determined from periodic incremental releases imposed during isometric responses to [K+]O at a diameter corresponding to Lmax, the optimum muscle length. Active stress responses and diameter responses were determined using pressure-diameter data for active and passive conditions. Collagen and elastin contents were determined for each sample. No correlation was found between CT content and PE or SE properties for the various sites. A close correlation was found to exist between SE and PE properties at each site, i.e., the sites with the stiffest PE also had the stiffest SE. SM, with stiffer SE, had a larger diameter response with the same active stress response and the same diameter response with a smaller active stress response, compared to SM with more compliant SE. This suggests that passive properties of SM can have a significant influence on the external manifestations of contractile element properties.
Active stress as a local regulator of global size in morphogenesis