Mathematical model for blood flow autoregulation by endothelium-derived relaxing factor

Abstract

The fluid shear stress is an important regulator of the cardiovascular system via the endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) that is Nitric Oxide. This mechanism involves biochemical reactions in an arterial wall. The autoregulation process is managed by the vascular tonus and gives the negative feedback for the shear stress changing. A new mathematical model for the autoregulation of a blood flow through arteria under the constant transmural pressure is presented. Endothelium-derived relaxing factor Nitric Oxide, the multi-layer structure of an arterial wall, and kinetic-diffusion processes are taken into consideration. The limit case of the thin-wall artery is analytically studied. The stability condition for a stationary point of the linearized system is given. The exact stationary solutions of the origin system are found. The numerical simulation for the autoregulation system is presented. It is shown the arteria adaptation to an initial radial perturbation and the transition of the system to new equilibrium state in response on the blood flow changing.