Figure 10.
(a) Representative histological images of the circumferential–transmural (C–T) plane for leaflets in NP, EP and LP. While fibre architecture and MVIC geometry in NP and LP are relatively similar, collagen in EP is less crimped and MVICs are notably deformed, possibly triggering growth and remodelling. (b) Measured NAR for both NP and P specimens, showing a sharp rise in EP followed by a gradual recovery to the pre-pregnant value. Average NAR for NP leaflets (nNP = 3) is shown as the mean ± s.e. of 30 total MVICs (10 from each specimen). Each P sample is shown as the mean ± s.e. of 10 MVICs. (c) FE simulation results for a population of 10 MVICs in an NP/LP microenvironment, compared with an EP microenvironment. MVICs in EP are predicted to experience higher NARs at all tension levels, but particularly at zero tension (diastole, in vivo). (c, inset) A visualization of the FE mesh used, showing MVICs (blue) as ellipsoidal inclusions in the ECM (pink). (Online version in colour.)