OBJECTIVETo observe the developing changes of adventitia in restenosis after precutaneous transluminal angioplasty(PTA), and investigate the effect of androgen on restenosis through contrasting the castrated male rat models and its mechanism.

METHODSModels were constructed of castrated male rats and restenosis of the common carotid artery, and specimens were collected at the 3rd, 7th, 14th and 28th day respectively after modeling. Hematoxylin and eosin staining, immunohistochemical staining, and electronic microscopy were performed to observe the condition of restenosis.

RESULTSProliferating cells occurred in adventitia first and phenotype of adventitial cells was changed at the 3rd day after PTA. The adventitial proliferating index was the highest at the 7th day after PTA, and proliferating migration towards intimal was observed. The proliferating cells mostly occurred in the middle layer and neointima at the 14th day after PTA. The areas of adventitia and neointima were larger and the degrees of restenosis were higher in the castrated rats than in the non-castrated ones at different time points. Take the 14 d group, the adventitial area was[(3,566 +/- 337) micron2 vs (2,751 +/- 401) micron2, P = 0.008], the neointimal area[(3,553 +/- 477) micron2 vs (2,757 +/- 435) micron2, P = 0.025], the restenosis rate[(76 +/- 2)% vs (60 +/- 8)%, P = 0.005], and the proliferating index [(29 +/- 2)% vs (13 +/- 1)%, P < 0.001].

CONCLUSIONAdventitial proliferation and migration contribute to restenosis after PTA; Androgen in rats can physiologically relieve restenosis, probably through intervening in the activation of adventitia.

Actins ; analysis ; Androgens ; physiology ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; Animals ; Bromodeoxyuridine ; metabolism ; Coronary Restenosis ; etiology ; pathology ; Coronary Vessels ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Orchiectomy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an optical analog of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) that can be used to examine the coronary arteries and has 10-fold higher resolution than IVUS. Based on polarization properties, OCT can differentiate tissue characteristics (fibrous, calcified, or lipid-rich plaque) and identify thin-cap fibroatheroma. Because of the strong attenuation of light by blood, OCT systems required the removal of blood during OCT examinations. A recently developed frequency-domain OCT system has a faster frame rate and pullback speed, making the OCT procedure more user-friendly and not requiring proximal balloon occlusion. During percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), OCT can provide detailed information (dissection, tissue prolapse, thrombi, and incomplete stent apposition [ISA]). At follow-up examinations after stent implantation, stent strut coverage and ISA can be assessed. Several OCT studies have demonstrated delayed neointimal coverage following drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation vs. bare metal stent (BMS) placement. While newer DESs promote more favorable vascular healing, the clinical implications remain unknown. Recent OCT studies have provided insights into restenotic tissue characteristics; DES restenotic morphologies differ from those with BMSs. OCT is a novel, promising imaging modality; with more in-depth assessments of its use, it may impact clinical outcomes in patients with symptomatic coronary artery disease.
*Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary/adverse effects/instrumentation ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease/*pathology/radiography/*therapy/ultrasonography ; Coronary Restenosis/etiology/pathology ; Coronary Vessels/*pathology/ultrasonography ; Humans ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Severity of Illness Index ; Stents ; *Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Treatment Outcome ; Ultrasonography, Interventional

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell transplantation on postangioplasty aortic restenosis in rats.

METHODS48 SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group, balloon injury group, balloon injury and MSCs transplantation group. MSCs were pre-labeled by DAPI (25 microg/ml) and then infused into aorta through the balloon catheter (MSCs 2 x 10(6)/animal). Thoracic aorta were taken for histological examination (frozen and paraffin sections) at 1, 2, 6 weeks post angioplasty, respectively. DAPI labeled MSCs were detected under immunofluorescence microscopy. Expressions of c-kit, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), smooth muscle alpha-actin (alpha-SMA) in aorta were determined by immunocytochemistry using related antibodies.

RESULTSThe DAPI-labeled MSCs could be detected on impaired intimae and alpha-SMA expression was seen in these cells 1 weeks after MSCs transplantation. Similar weak c-kit expression in neointima was found in both injury and transplantation group at 2 weeks (P > 0.05). Expressions of PCNA and alpha-SMA in the neointima were significantly higher in transplantation group than in injury group at 2 weeks. Intima/tunica media area ratio and luminal stenosis ratio were significantly increased in transplantation group than injury group at 6 weeks (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONBone marrow MSCs transplanted post aortic angioplasty could home to serious wounded aortic intima, differentiate into smooth muscle like cells, promote neointima cellular proliferation and aggravate postangioplasty aortic restenosis in rats.

Angioplasty, Balloon ; adverse effects ; Animals ; Aorta ; pathology ; Bone Marrow Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Coronary Restenosis ; etiology ; pathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of phVEGF165 transfer on vascular remodelling after balloon injury and its possible mechanisms.

METHODS90 New Zealand white rabbits were divided randomly into 3 groups: group I (balloon injury group), group II (pAdtrackCMV group) and group III (pAdtrackCMV-VEGF165 group). All animals were given hypercholesterol diet for 7 days before experiment and continued to receive hypercholesterol diet until being killed. Each group was further divided into five subgroups according to the sacrifice time (3 days, 1, 2, 4 and 8 weeks after transfection). Blood samples and arteries were harvested for further analysis.

RESULTSAt the end of 2 weeks, areas of neointima plus media of group III were smaller than those of group I and II (P < 0.05). The areas under external elastic membrane were larger in group III at 4 weeks and lumen stenosis rates were significantly lower than group I and II (P < 0.05 or 0.01). In group III, VEGF165, metalloproteinases (MMPs) -1, -2, -9 and their tissue inhibitors (TIMPs) 1, 2 could be detected from 3 days after gene transfer and reached the highest level at 2 weeks time and could not be detected by 8 weeks time. In groups I and II, MMP-2 and TIMP-1, -2 could be detected during the whole procedure and the value of TIMP1/MMP1 was significantly higher than in group III (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONRemodelling is the main reason for restenosis (RS) after vascular balloon injury. Local pAdtrackCMV-VEGF165 transfer can specifically change the expression of MMPs and facilitate the positive remodelling process, hence, inhibiting restenosis.

Angioplasty, Balloon ; adverse effects ; Animals ; Coronary Restenosis ; etiology ; pathology ; Endothelial Growth Factors ; genetics ; physiology ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; genetics ; physiology ; Lymphokines ; genetics ; physiology ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinases ; metabolism ; Rabbits ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors

OBJECTIVETo study the safety and efficacy of control-releasing arsenic trioxide (As2O3)-eluting stent on intimal smooth muscle cells (SMC) and type III collagen (CIII) in canine coronary artery post-stent model.

METHODSTwenty-four experimental canines were equally divided into 4 groups, the three tested groups were deployed by stents with different dosage of As2O3 (1.6 microg/mm2, 2.4 microg/mm2 and 3.2 microg/mm2 in low, median and high dose groups, respectively) and coated with polybutyl methacrylate/nano silica and poly-lactide-coglycolide in mild oversizing (stent/vessel ratio of 1.3:1) in left anterior descending (LAD) or circumflex coronary arteries (LCX), while the control group only by simple coated stent without As2O3. The effect was assessed 4 weeks after stent implantation in terms of vascular histomorphology, and changes of SMC and C III expressions were detected using immunohistochemical analysis.

RESULTSSubintimal hemorrhage, medial/adventitial necrosis, thrombosis and inflammatory cell infiltration were not found and integral endothelium could be seen under screening electron microscopy in all groups. Positive expression of SMC and CIII in the tested groups, especial in the high dose As2O3 group, was more weaker than that in control group. Histo-morphological analysis showed that the neo-genetic intimal area and vascular stenosis were lower, but the mean luminal diameter was larger in the three tested groups than that in the control group (P < 0.01). Comparisons of various indices between tested groups treated by different doses of As2O3 showed that the difference between high/median dose vs. low dose was significant (P < 0.01), but that between high dose vs. median dose was insignificant (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONControl-releasing As2O3-eluting stent shows a reliable and safe effect in preventing and treating post-stent restenosis by its dose-dependent inhibition on expressions of SMC and CIII to suppress the neo-genesis of intimal hyperplasia.

Animals ; Arsenicals ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Collagen Type III ; metabolism ; Coronary Restenosis ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Coronary Vessels ; metabolism ; pathology ; Dogs ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; Female ; Implants, Experimental ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Oxides ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Tunica Intima ; drug effects ; pathology

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; C-Reactive Protein ; analysis ; Coronary Restenosis ; prevention & control ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; Humans ; Inflammation ; complications ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Interferon-gamma ; blood ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; immunology ; Sirolimus ; administration & dosage ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; biosynthesis ; blood ; Tunica Intima ; pathology