Probucol prevents restenosis by regulating vascular remodeling after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in rabbits

AIM: To investigate the relationship between the prevention of probucol on restenosis and vascular remodeling after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty(PTA) in rabbits. METHODS: New Zealand rabbit thoracic aorta atherosclerosis was induced by 3.5F ballon catheter injury following a 4-weeks feeding of high cholesterol diet, and PTA was performed by using 3.5F balloon catheter. Probucol(1g/d) or vitamin E (400 mg/d) was administrated one week before PTA. Two weeks after PTA, the bore and outside diameter (OD) of arteries, the area circumscribing by intimal elastic lamina (IEL), the area circumscribing by extral elastic lamina (EEL), medial area (MA), neointima area/medial area (NEA/MA) were analyzed by computerized digitizer system. Lipids of serum were measured by means of biochemical assay.RESULTS: After two weeks of PTA, the intima proliferation and lumen restenosis were observed obviously. However, with probucol treatment for 3 weeks, the restenosis of aorta was inhibited significantly by increasing bore, outside diameter, and lumen area of rabbits aortas and decreasing NEA, NEA/MA. Furthermore, probucol regulated vascular remodeling by increasing the area circumscribing by IEL [(3.50±0.20)mm 2 vs (1.59±0.23) mm 2, P 0 01 ] and EEL [(4.61±0.29) mm 2 vs (2.56±0.28) mm 2, P0 01 ] of rabbit aortas. In addition, probucol decreased lipids of serum in rabbits. CONCLUSION: Probucol prevents restenosis by regulating vascular remodeling after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in rabbits.