FIGURE 5.

Vascular smooth muscle cell contraction induces elastin fibre tortuosity and increases aortic viscoelasticity. (A, B) Indeed, VSMC contraction increases the tortuosity of elastin fibers in the medial layer of the aorta. (C) Additionally, the circularity of the nuclei is increased after VSMC contraction. Finally, acute contraction with phenylephrine increases both (D) the viscous and the (E) elastic properties of the aortic segment. Statistical analyses: (B–C) Unpaired T-test, (D–E) paired T-test. (B–E) n = 6. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001. PE = phenylephrine.