Effects of Puerarin(葛根素) on platelet activation and intimal thickening after vascular balloon injury in rats

Objective:To investigate the process of neointimal formation,the level of platelet activation,and the effects of Puerarin(葛根素) on them after vascular balloon injury in rats.Methods:Rat models of aortic endothelial denudation by balloon catheter were established.Rats were randomly allocated into three groups.Group 1 (n=24) served as controls.Group 2 (n=24) were given vascular balloon injury.Group 3 (n=24) were given Puerarin (50 mg·kg -1·d -1) from 1 day before injury to 28 days after injury.The number of platelet αgranule membrane protein140(GMP140) and the process of intimal thickening were investigated at day 3,7,14 and 28 after injury by radioimmunological technique and histological method, respectively. Results:①The number of platelet GMP140 were higher obviously at day 3 and began to decrease at day 7 after injury.②The migration and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells(VSMC) had existed at day 3 after balloon injury.The thickening of intima had begun at day 7 after injury,and they were more significant at day 14.The proliferation of VSMC decreased at day 28,but extracellular matrix increased and the intimal thickening continued.③ When given Puerarin,the number of platelet GMP140 and the migration of VSMC reduced,but the intimal thickening had no significant variation.Conclusion:The number of platelet GMP140 increase in the process of intimal thickening after balloon injury.Puerarin inhibits the activation of platelet and migration of VSMC,but has no obvious effect on intimal thickening.