Thickness of Walls of Myocardial Arterioles in Relation to Smoking and Age

Abstract

Three studies were made of the thickness of myocardium arteriole walls in relation to smoking and age. One was done on men at autopsy. Two were done on beagle dogs. In men, the thickness of arteriole walls was greater, on the average, in smokers than nonsmokers and increased with age. Thickness of arteriole walls increased with number of cigarettes smoked per day. The thickness was less, on the average, among cigar and pipe smokers than cigarette smokers. In two experiments beagle dogs daily inhaled cigarette smoke through tracheostomae; others were not exposed. The arteriole walls became thicker in smoking dogs than in nonsmoking dogs; thicker in dogs smoking many cigarettes than in dogs smoking fewer cigarettes; thicker in dogs smoking nonfilter cigarettes than in dogs smoking filter-tip cigarettes. The thickness of arteriole walls increased with duration of smoking.