In-Stent Restenosis in the Rabbit Common Carotid Arteries Organ Culture

Abstract

In-stent restenosis is the result of a healing process that induces neointimal hyperplasia though mechanisms that are still not understood. The purpose of this study was to analyze the early histologic consequences and the kinetics of the healing process for a 72-hours period after stent implantation in an organ culture model. MTT-tests show that the vessel could maintain activity in the organ culture system. The vessel with stent had a different morphology and inflammatory molecule release compared with the normal vessel. So there could have direct relationships between inflammatory release and neointimal hyperplasia. The organ culture system can provide valuable information for studies of in-stent restenosis after stent implantation, especially for evaluation of new stents, such as drug-coated or other surface-modified stents.