Minimally invasive surgery techniques such as laparoscopic, endoscopic and thoracoscopic procedures became current practice and recently have revolutionized the specialty of vascular surgery. However, the practice and skills of surgeons are crucial to perform correctly the numerous highly sophisticated and delicate procedures of this surgical specialty. Normally for training are used simulators, which have a known limitations. Sometimes, there are also using very expensive and not always available fresh cadavers, due to the importance of biomechanical properties of arteries for the training. The use of embalmed cadavers assumes the better results in the surgeon comprehension of complex anatomic and vascular exposures and can improves their operative confidence. However, a traditional formaldehydeembalming method cannot preserve the structure and properties of the vascular system. In order to remove these limitations we have developed a new embalming perfusion method aiming to satisfy the needs to support the embalmed bodies as true simulator for vascular surgery. In this study, we present results of histological analysis and evaluation of mechanical properties of the arteries, achieved with our perfusion system, and its comparison with formaldehyde-embalming method. Other important features, such as the authenticity of colour, tissue consistency and elasticity (flexibility) of the vascular vessels, are also discussed. P8.8 APELIN/APJ RECEPTOR SYSTEM INVOLVEMENT IN OBESITY-RELATED VASCULAR REACTIVITY CHANGESBackground: Obesity associated changes of vascular reactivity could be related to inadequate secretion of adipokines. Apelin is an adipokine with cardiovascular, endocrine and metabolic actions. We aimed to investigate the possible modulator actions of apelin on obesity induced changes of vascular reactivity. Methods: Obese prone (OP-CD) rats and obese resistant (OR-CD) rats were fed high-fat diets. After 4 weeks the pulmonary and mesenteric arteries were used to comparatively analyse the contractile (induced by phenylephrine -Phe) and relaxant (induced by acetylcholine ACh) responses. Localization of apelin and its APJ receptor was determined using immunohistochemistry. Results: The Phe -induced contraction was amplified on PA and ACh -induced relaxation was reduced on both PA (with 62%) and MA (with almost a half) in OP-CD as compare with OR-CD. Pre-treatment with apelin 13 (AP13) improve ACh effect on PA rings form OP-CD. Administration of apelin-13(F13A) receptor antagonist increase the Emax of Phe MA from OP-CD (with 26%) and decreased the ACh effect on all rings from both OP-CD and OR-CD rats. IHC demonstrate a decrease of apelin on PA endothelium but no differences on MA for either AP or APJ receptor. In conclusion, the apelin/APJ peptidergic system could be involved in obesity related reactivity alteration of arteries from both pulmonary and systemic circulation.