EFFECTS OF LOW SHEAR STRESS ON DEVEIOPMENT AND EXPRESSION OF ?-ACTIN AND c-Myc OF VASCULAR SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLS OF COMMON CAROTID ATHEROSCLEROSIS / 解剖学报

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate effects of low shear stress on atherosclerosis,the development of atherosclerosis and expression of ?actin and cMyc proteins were studied in VSMC of common carotid artery under low shear stress. Methods We established the atherosclerotic model of left common carotid artery that presented low shear stress by the operation of ligating the left external carotid artery in rabbits.The histomorphology of the carotid arteries was examined by light microscopy.The expression of ?actin and cMyc was studied by immunohistochemistry. Results The typical atherosclerosis was observed and the atherosclerotic lesion was obviously accelerated under low shear stress.The expression of ?actin was downregulated and the phenotype of VSMC converted from contractile phenotype into synthetic phenotype,and expression of cMyc increased in VSMC of the artery under low shear stress.Conclusion This new model of atherosclerosis under low shear stress was successfully established,which provides a new tool for studying the effects of low shear stress on atherosclerosis.The results show that the atherosclerotic lesion is obviously accelerated and VSMC tends to proliferate in response to low shear stress.