The effects of rosiglitazone on neointima and inflammatory factors after carotid artery balloon injury of rats

Objective To investigate the effect of rosiglitazone on neointima and inflammatory factor after carotid artery injury of rats. Methods A total of 60 SD rats were divided randomly into 3 groups: the control group, the surgery group and the resiglitazone therapeutic group. The left common carotid arteries were injured by balloon in the surgery group and the therapeutic group. Rosiglitazone was administrated intragastricly to therapeutic group. The plasma tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were detected with radioimmunoassay at 4h, 1 and 7d after the operation. After 2 weeks, the injured vessels were stained by HE and immunity histochemistry method,then observed with microscope. Neointimal area (NIA), internal elastic lamina area (IELA), stenosis index (SI) and optical density value of protein expression of NF-κB were calculated. Results Rosiglitazone inhibited the neointima of injured vessels, decreased the protein expression of NF-κB and reduced plasma TNF-α and IL-6 levels. Conclusion Rosiglitazone can inhibit the inflammatory reaction of injured vessels and lighten the restenosis of injured vessels.