ABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo investigate the expression and significance of p38 mitogen-activated protei n kinase (MAPK) in autogenous vein graft. Methods Autogenous vein graft model was established by transplanting the right jugular vein to infr arenal abdominal aorta in 80 Wistar rats. Ten vein graft samples were harvested 6 hours, 24 hours, 3 days, 7 days, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 6 weeks and 8 weeks after s urgery,respectively. Reverse transcription-PCR and in situ hybridization,Wester n blot and immunohistochemistry methods were used to detect the expression of pr otein and phosphorylation protein of p38 and p38mRNA. ResultsThe expression of p38 mRNA increased 6 hours after surgery and reached the peak on the second week after surgery (59%?26%),and significantly higher than that on 4,6,8 weeks( P