Experimental study of inhibiting restenosis by probucol after rabbit carotid endarterectomy

Objective To observe the effects of antioxidant probucol on restenosis after carotid endarterectomy(CEA).Methods New Zealand rabbits were used to create carotid atherosclerotic stenosis(CASS)model by air-drying of intima of carotid artery and feeding high cholesterol diet.The animals were allocated randomly to experimental group(30) and control group(30) and underwent CEA.In experimental group,probucol(0.6 g~(-1)·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)) was given by gastric gavage from 14 days before CEA to the sampling day.The effects of probucol on neointima were studied by ultrasound and pathology.Results The thickness and area of neointima and ratio of intima/media significantly decreased and the remaining areas of vessels increased in experimental group compared with those in control group,and the rate of stenosis was lower than that in control group.These results were proved by ultrasound and pathology.Conclusion Antioxidant probucol inhibits restenosis after CEA possibly by its complicated structure and various mechanisms.