Large arteries such as the aorta that carry oxygenated blood from the heart have to be mechanically strong to withstand the high pressure of the blood expelled into it and also elastic to sustain continual pulsations that push the blood forward into smaller arteries and capillaries providing oxygen supply to the whole body. Collagen fibers are the load-bearing components whereas elastin fibers provide the elasticity to the artery. The smooth muscle cells synthesize these matrix proteins and also help transduce mechanical forces to them. The highly ordered structure of collagen and elastin fibers and their intimate interaction with each other helps maintain the dimensions and prevents dilatation of the artery (which can be fatal). Masson’s trichrome is a special histology stain that stains collagen blue, elastin red, and cell nuclei black. This image is a histological view of a porcine carotid artery. In our research, we utilize these arteries as the starting material for vascular tissue engineering. Natural materials integrate better than synthetic polymers into the host as they posses similar architecture to the native tissue. This image draws attention to the long-lasting, strong, rubber tube that nature has provided us with and whose capabilities we often take for granted.

Funding sources for research represented by the image:
Hunter Endowment, Department of Bioengineering