Atorvastatin inhibits intimal hyperplasia of vein graft in goats

Objective:To determine whether atorvastatin inhibits intimal hyperplasia of vein graft in goats.Methods:Goats were randomly divided into the control and atorvastatin groups(n=10 for each group).Arterial defects were made in bilateral femoral arteries;4cm vein grafts were removed from saphenous veins and transplanted to the arterial defects.The control goats were fed regular goat chow,while goats in atorvastatin group were fed atorvastatin(60mg·d-1)in regular chow.The vein grafts were harvested 2 weeks and 4 weeks after the operation.The thickness of the neointima was determined using a computerized image analysis system;the intimal cells were evaluated by immunohistochemical staining for proliferative cell nuclear antigen(PCNA)and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labelling(TUNEL).Results:The intimal thickness of grafts were significantly thinner in atorvastatin group than in control group \[(194.51±17.02)vs(331.70±25.18)μm,P0.01\].The numbers of PCNA-positive cells were less in atorvastatin group than in control group \[(16.15±2.19)vs(28.89±2.24),P0.01\].The numbers of TUNEL-positive cells were more in atorvastatin group than in control group \[(31.02±2.59)vs(20.74±1.86),P0.01\].Conclusion:Atorvastatin can inhibit intimal hyperpasia of vein graft in goats.