ABSTRACTBackgroundCardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, especially in those undergoing dialysis and kidney transplant surgery. CKD patients are at high risk of developing arterial media calcifications (AMC) and arterial stiffness. We hypothesized that investigation of disease progression at an early stage could provide novel insights in understanding AMC etiology.MethodsAn adenine diet was administered to male Wistar rats to induce AMC. Rats were sacrificed after 2, 4 and 8 weeks. AMC was measured by assessment of aortic calcium and visualized using histology. Arterial stiffness was measuredin vivoby ultrasound andex vivoby applying cyclic stretch of physiological magnitude on isolated arterial segments, allowing us to generate the corresponding pressure–diameter loops. Further,ex vivoarterial reactivity was assessed in organ baths at 2 and 4 weeks to investigate early alterations in biomechanics/cellular functionality.ResultsCKD rats showed a time-dependent increase in aortic calcium which was confirmed on histology. Accordingly,ex vivoarterial stiffness progressively worsened. Pressure–diameter loops showed a gradual loss of arterial compliance in CKD rats. Additionally, viscoelastic properties of isolated arterial segments were altered in CKD rats. Furthermore, after 2 and 4 weeks of adenine treatment, a progressive loss in basal, nitric oxide (NO) levels was observed, which was linked to an increased vessel tonus and translates into an increasing viscous modulus.ConclusionsOur observations indicate that AMC-related vascular alterations develop early after CKD induction prior to media calcifications being present. Preventive action, related to restoration of NO bioavailability, might combat AMC development.