Effects of intravascular irradiation on proliferation inhibition of rabbit vessel smooth muscle cells after balloon angioplasty

Objective To observe the effect of 188Re intravascular irradiation on inhiciting proliferation of rabbit vessel smooth muscle cells after balloon angioplasty.Methods Forty New Zealand white rabbits were divided into two groups randomly:the control group(n=20)and the irradiation group(n=20).In both groups,balloon catheter overstretched on abdominal aorta artery to denude endothelium,in irradiation group alone,188Re-radioactive liquid filled balloon irradiation was performed in target segment immediately after balloon overstretched injury until the accumulative radioactive dose under the irradiation surface 0.5 mm was add up to 15 Gy.Target segments were harvested at 3,6 weeks after the operation respectively.Pathohistological samples were analyzed.Blood routine were detected before and after 188Re irradiation treatment.Results In 3 weeks,as compared with the control group,PCNA positive cells,TUNEL positive cells were decreased significantly in irradiation group(P=0.046,P=0.018,respectively),but there were no significant difference between two groups in 6 weeks(P0.05).There were no significant difference in the level of red blood cell,hemoglobin,white blood cell,blood platelet value before and after irradiation treatment(P0.05).Conclusion 188Re intravascular irradiation can efficiently inhibit the proliferation and accelerate the apoptosis of VSMCs after balloon angioplasty without bone marrow depression effect.