Various Configurations of Arterial Smooth Muscle Cells Affect Molecular Transport in the Arterial Wall

Abstract

The shape of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) in an artery wall can considerably affect molecular transport across the media layer. In this work, we present a two dimensional numerical simulation of interstitial fluid diffusing through media layer. It is modeled as a heterogeneous medium composed of smooth muscle cells with elliptic shape. The assumption of elliptic SMCs resembles the spindled shape of SMCs. The interstitial fluid enters from fenestral pores which are assumed to be distributed uniformly over the internal elastic lamina (IEL). Results show the value of ATP concentration is dependent of the shape of SMCs