Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Restenosis and lumina loss limit further application of balloon extension and stent implantation. Effect of tunica intima proliferation and apoptosis in restenosis and the intervention method are exploring.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of Rosuvastatin on the vascular smooth muscle cells proliferation and apoptosis in rats with carotid artery injury established by Medtronic balloon.
METHODS: The male SD rats were randomly and equally divided into injury group and treatment group. Each rat was subjected to balloon injury on the left common carotid artery, and control artery without balloon injury on the right artery served as control group. Treatment group rats were given Rosuvastatin (dissolved in Nacl) 5 mg/kg per day 3 days before injury, while the injury group rats were given 9 g/L NaCl. At 7 and 14 days after injury, the common carotid arteries were harvested for HE staining. SM α-actin and proliferating cell nuclear antigen were detected by immunohistochemistry. In addition, smooth muscle cells apoptosis was detected by TUNEL.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The neointimal area and the area ratio of neointimal/media were decreased in treatment group significantly at 14 days compared with injury group (P < 0.05), and neointimal area increased by 26%; positive cell rate of proliferating cell nuclear antigen was decreased, but apoptosis cells were increased compared with the injury group (P < 0.05). Results showed that Rosuvastatin prior to balloon injury inhibited neointimal proliferation and neointimal cell proliferation following balloon injury, promoted smooth muscle cells apoptosis, ultimately reducing neointimal formation and inhibiting restenosis.