Structural Features of the Wall of the Ascending Aorta of Premature Rats

Abstract

Premature birth has an obvious effect on all the systems of the body, including the cardiovascular system, which undergoes significant adaptive changes in the early postnatal period of ontogenesis. A comprehensive understanding of the consequences of preterm birth is necessary to ensure early prevention, identification, and treatment of the long-term adverse health consequences of this effect. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of premature birth on the structure of the wall of the ascending aorta in rats. The paper presents the results of a histological and morphometric analysis of the wall of the ascending aorta of Wistar rats born on days 21 and 21.5 of pregnancy (the full gestation period is 22 days). In the wall of the ascending aorta of prematurely born rats, signs of elastolysis and a violation of the parallel arrangement of elastic laminae were found. It has been shown that premature birth results in a decreased specific volume of elastic fibers and increased collagen fibers in the tunica media of the wall of the ascending aorta of prematurely born rats.