EFFECTS OF ALL-TRANS RETINOIC ACID ON INTIMA PROLIFERATION AND VEGF AND VCAM-1 EXPRESSIONS OF RABBIT CAROTID ARTERY AFTER ITS ENDOTHELIUM INJURY

Objective To observe the effects of all-trans retinoic acid(atRA) on intimal proliferation,the expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1(VCAM-1) after carotid endothelium injury in rabbits.Methods Methods Thirty-six New Zealand rabbits were randomized to treatment groups(A,B),control groups(A,B) and sham-operation groups(A,B).The rabbits in treatment groups and control groups were fed with high cholesterol chow and subjected to carotid endothelial injury by air desiccation.Those in sham-operation groups underwent surgery without endothelium injury.atRA was administered daily to the treatment groups by means of lavage.All rabbits in groups A and B were sacrificed at seven and 28 days after surgery.The carotid specimens were collected for morphology.VEGF and VCAM-1 were detected immunohistochemically.Results In the sham-operation group,the artery intima was smooth,without atherosclerosis and VCAM-1 expression;In the control group,neointimal proliferation started at seven days after surgery,severe intimal hyperplasia and atherosclerosis were found at 28 days,the expressions of VEGF and VCAM-1 were upregulated;In the treatment group,the intimal proliferation at 28 days after surgery was less severe(t=4.770,P0.001),and the expressions of VEGF and VCAM-1 were lower than that in the control(t=3.280-4.288,P0.01,0.05).Conclusion atRA can inhibit neointimal proliferation after carotid endothelium injury,one of the mechanisms is down regulation of VEGF and VCAM-1 expressions.