Effect of test temperature on vascular residual strain

Summary form only given. In experiments dealing with mechanical characterization of biological tissues, for simplicity, the tests are usually conducted at room temperature. The validity of this practice, however, is often questioned by researchers in physiology and medicine. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of test temperature on the value of the residual strain of aortic rings. Aortas from three pigs (150 kg and 6 months old) extending from the root of descending aorta to the bifurcation were used. Using a total of 240 rings from aortas of three pigs, we have found no difference in the value of residual strain at various temperatures. It is, therefore, concluded that for simplicity, residual strain measurement can be conducted at room temperature.