All-trans-retinoic Acid Decreases Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation and Increases Apoptosis in an Animal Model of Vein Bypass Grafting / 中国医师杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To examine the effect of all-trans-retinoic acid (atRA) on proliferation and apoptosis rates of smooth muscle cells in healing vein bypass grafts.Methods Autogenous vein graft model was established in 40 rats by transplanting the internal branch of the jugular vein to the carotid by end-to-end anastomosis.Animals were divided at random into two groupsatRA group and control group.The animals received atRA(10mg?kg -1 ?d -1 ) or same dosage vehicle(corn oil) from 4 days preoperation to 10 days postoperation.Animals were sacrificed and the grafted veins were harvested at 7,14 days,respectively after the operation .The grafted veins were then processed for staining and measurements.Hyperplasia,smooth muscle cell proliferation were detected by pathological and immunohistochemical methods.All the data were analyzed by a computerized system.The presence of apoptotic smooth muscle cells was demonstrated by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase biotin nick end-labeling (TUNEL) method.Results There was a significant decrease in the average intimal thickness at 7,14 days in the atRA group.Immunohistochemical analysis of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) indicated decreased positive cells in the atRA group, compared with the control group at 1 or 2 weeks after the operation. Apoptosis of smooth muscle cells was higher in the atRA group than in the control group at 1 week or 14d postoperation.Conclusions These preliminary results demonstrated that atRA (10mg/kg/d) inhibits smooth muscle cell proliferation and induces smooth muscle cell apoptosis in rats.