Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Flavone aglycone, a component of ginkgo biloba extract, has strong antioxidant activity. Preliminary studies have demonstrated that ginkgo flavone aglycone (GFA) can inhibit lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1) expression induced by oxidized low density lipoprotein.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of GFA on the intimal proliferation and LOX-1 expression in rabbits after carotid endothelial injury.
METHODS: New Zealand male rabbits were randomly divided into the control, sham surgery, model, and treatment groups. All rabbits were fed with high cholesterol chow except that in the control group. Rabbits in the sham surgery group underwent surgery without endothelium injury, those in the model and treatment groups underwent carotid balloon injury. GFA was administered daily to the treatment group by gavages. Serum lipids in 4 groups were detected at 4 weeks after operation. The carotid artery segments were harvested for histomorphometry observation. LOX-1 levels were measured though SP immunohistochemistry assay and RT-PCR.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Neointimal proliferation and atherosclerosis was found in carotid artery of the model group at 4 weeks after operation, and the expression of LOX-1 was notably increased (P < 0.05). In the treatment group, the intimal area, intimal/medial area ratio and the LOX-1 expression were smaller than those of the model group (P < 0.01), but the serum lipids levels had no difference. GFA can inhibit neointimal proliferation and atherosclerosis progress, which may be related to down-regulated expression of LOX-1 after carotid balloon injury.