ABSTRACT
Objective To study the effect of clopidogrel on intimal hyperplasia of rabit arta injured by balloon and its mechanism.Methods Twelve New Zealand rabbits were established as atherosclerosis plaques rupture models and were evenly divided in to the high-cholesterol group and the clopidogrel group.Another 6 rabbits were set as the control.Serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels were taken in the beginning,before and after surgery.Meansurement alsincluded the changes in macrophage count and collagen levels in the plaques,changes of plasma fibrinogen and P-selectin levels as well as changes in activity of t-PA and PAI-1.The changes of intima thickness and the degree of stenosis were recorded.Results Compared to the control group,the high-cholesterol group and the clopidogrel group had higher average macrophages count and collagen levels in the plaques.The clopidogrel group had less macrophages count in the plaques than the high-cholesterol group;however,the clopidogrel group had higher levels of collagen in the plaques than the high-cholesterol group.The plasma level of P-selectin reduced in the clopidogrel group after plaques rupture.The activity of t-PA remained uncharged in the clopidogrel group but increased in the high cholesterol group.Compared to pre-treatment level,the activity of PAI-1 increased in the high-cholesterol group but reduced in the clopidogrel groups after atherosclerosis plaques rupture.The thickness of vessel intima increased in both the high-cholesterol group and the clopidogrel group,however,the degree of intima thickening and vessel stenosis is less in the clopidogrel group compared to the high-cholesterol group.Conclusion Clopidogrel relieves inflammation reaction by inhibitting thrombogenesis and the movement of macrophages in atherosclerosis plaques,thus minimizes the degree atherosclerosis and vessel intima hyperplasia.