Effects of panax notoginseng saponin on restenosis of vein graft

Abstract

Objective To observate the effects of panax notoginseng saponin （PNS） on restenosis of rat vein graft. Methods Jugular vein-to-artery bypass grafting was performed on 30 Sprague-Dawley rats. The rats were divided into three groups： sham gruup, model group and PNS group. Drugs were administered at the second day after the operation for 14 days. The grafts were harvested for histoehemieal staining to observe the hyperplasia of neointima, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen （PCNA） expression, and apoptosis of smooth muscle cells were detected by TUNEL. Results In sham group, model group and PNS group, the endometrial thickness was （4. 05± 0. 85 ）, （26. 30 ±1.15 ）, （ 10. 80 ± 0. 98 ） p.m; the intima/media was （ 0. 22 ± 0. 09 ）, （ 0. 76 ± 0. 27 ）, （ 0. 45±0. 23 ）, respectively. The neointimal thickness in PNS group was significantly less than in model group （ P 〈 0. 05 ）. The PCNA expression in model group （A value） was （23.6± 4. 3 ）, significantly higher than in PNS group （ 11.5±3.6 ） （ P 〈 0. 05 ）. The percentage of apoptotic cells in model group was （4. 3 ± 1.9 ） , significantly lower than in PNS group （20. 3 ± 3.5 ） （ P 〈 0. 05 ）. Conclusion PNS can inhibit the neointimal hyperplais of vein graft, which can prevente restenosis after bypass grafts. Key words: Vein graft ; Panax notoginseng saponin ; Vascular restenosis ; Neointima