The effect of non-restrictive external stent on cell proliferation in rabbit vein grafts / 解放军医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the effect of non-restrictive external stent on both cell proliferation of rabbit vein grafts and prevention from hyperplasia of the grafts' neointima. Methods 36 New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into two groups, each animal was subjected to a reversed autologous venous graft between external jugular vein and common carotid artery. In stenting group (group S), the vein grafts were surrounded by a 6 mm in diameter non-restrictive stent, and in non-stenting group (group NS), there is no stent to support the vein grafts. The grafts were harvested 1 week (1W), 2 weeks (2W) and 4 weeks (4W) after surgery, respectively. The sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin stain, ?-smooth muscle actin (?-SMA) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) immunocytochemistry stain. PCNA index was calculated in intima, media and adventitia, respectively. Results (1) HE staining From 1W to 4W, the hyperplasia of intima and media appeared gradually in both group S and group NS, nevertheless such hyperplasia in group S was lessintense than in group NS. (2) ?-SMA staining Almost all cells in media were positive, but few cells were positive in intima of both groups at 1W; the thickness of intima of both groups increased gradually, and almost all cells except endothelial cells were positive in intima in both groups, though the thickness of intima of group S was smaller than in group NS at 2W and 4W. (3) PCNA index the index of intima in both two groups peaked at 2W, and the index of intima in group S was less than in group NS at 2W and 4W, P