Relationship between intimal hyperplasia and NF-kB expression in carotid artery of hypercholesterolemic rabbits after balloon injury

Abstract

Objective To investigate the expression of nuclear factor kappa B （NF-kB） in carotid artery of hypercholesterolemic rabbits injured by balloon and its relationship with intimal hyperplasia. Methods Twenty-five New Zealand male rabbits were fed with atherogenic diet and balloon injury was conducted in right carotid artery 4 weeks later. The rabbits were killed at the 6th hour, 24th hour, I th week, 2th week and 4th week, respectively. Blood samples and right carotid artery were collected in time and intimal hyperplasia was studied by histological morphology method. The expression of NF-kB was measured by in-situ hypridization （ISH）. Results Intimal hyperplasia was present at the 7th day after balloon injury in hypercholesterolemic rabbits and it became more obvious with the increasing of the time. The intimal hyperplasia was not detected in the media area. The intima/media ratio was increased as time went on. The expression of NF-kB mRNA was observed in the carotid atery of hypercholesterolemic rabbits at the 6th hour after balloon injury and the expression reached its peak at the 2th week. The expression of NF-kB was much higher in injury group than that of control group. Conclusion The expression of NF-kB is up-regulated in carotid artery of hypercholesterolemic rabbits injured by balloon, which is involved in the inflammatory reaction and restenosis caused by balloon injury. Key words: NF-kappa B ; Carotid artery injuries ; Carotid body ; Tunica intima