Effect and mechanism of ticagrelor on carotid artery intimal hyperplasia in rats after balloon injury

Objective: To investigate the effect of anti-platelet drug ticagrelor on carotid artery intimal hyperplasia in rats after balloon injury and its mechanism. Methods:Forty-two ordinary SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group( n = 6),balloon injury group( n = 12),ticagrelor normal dose group( n = 12),ticagrelor high-dose group( n =12). Carotid artery of four groups was taken out at 7 days and 21 days after balloon injury. The pathological changes of carotid artery was observed by H-E staining and intimal area( IA) and the membrane area( MA) was measured. PDGF and PCNA expressions were determined by immunohistochemical method. Results:Compared with the balloon injury group,the intimal area and the intima / media area ratio was significantly reduced in the high dose group and normal dose group( P 0. 05). Carotid artery PDGF and PCNA expressions were significantly lower( P 0. 05). Compared with the normal dose groups,at 7 day points intimal area and the intima / media area ratio were significantly reduced in high dose group( P 0. 05). Carotid artery PDGF amd PCNA expressions were significantly lower,too( P 0. 05). High-dose group and normal drug dose group showed no significant difference in the intimal area between 21 days and 7 days. At the same time,there was no significant difference in the expression of the common carotid artery PDGF and PCNA. Conclusion:Ticagrelor can reduce the extent of intimal hyperplasia after arterial injury and its mechanism probably includes inhibition of platelet activation,blocking platelet release PDGF stimulating vascular smooth muscle proliferation. Early balloon injury has more obvious inhibition of intimal hyperplasia in the high dose drug group than in the normal dose group,and at the later stage high dose group has no difference from the normal dose group.