A Double-Injury Model of Rabbit Carotid Artery for the Understanding of Restenosis After Experimental Angioplasty

Aim The efficacy of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) is limited by high incidence of restenosis.For investigating the mechanism of restenosis following angioplasty,an applicable restenosis model that mimic human vascular injury are needed.Methods Arterial lesions were induced by placement of an absorbable thread around the right common carotid artery of rabbits.After 4 weeks,the thread was absorbed,and a subgroup of rabbit carotid arteries was subjected to secondary balloon dilation.Histological difference among the experimental groups was assessed 4 weeks after the double-injury approach.Results 8 weeks after thread placement,the shrunk carotid artery demonstrated atherosclerotic lesions.The atherosclerotic carotids in other group underwent angioplasty,resulting in plaque,medial layer disruption and significant intimal hyperplasia.Neointimal lesions were composed of foam cell and extracellular matrix.The number of adventitial vasa vasroum increased compared with control group.Conclusion The animal model of atherosclerosis and restenosis was successfully created.This method was simple,economical and manageable,and the model was steady,and easily repeated.