Abstract:Objective:To study the effet of ET-1 and ECE on endothelial proliferation of autografted vein.
Methods :An animal model of the autogenous vein graft was established in 80 Wistar rats. The expression of ECE and EF-1 gene was determined by RT-PCR and immunohistological method to test the mRNA and protein expresion level respectively.
Results: PCNA positive smooth muscle cells appeared 6 hours after transplantation, increased with time, and reached a peak at 1 to 2 weeks. After 2 weeks, PCNA positive SMC in the tunica media began to decline and recovered to the 6 hour level at 8 weeks after the operation. mRNA of ECE increased with the time after the operation, reached a peak after 1-2 weeks, declined afterwards, and became stable at around 8 weeks. Expression change of ET1 was similar to the change of ECE, reached the peak after 1-2 weeks and was stable after 8 weeks (r=0.975).
Conclusions:The time and pattern of change of the pathologic process of intimal hyperplasia are in agreement with the expression of ET-1 and ECE, and suggests that ECE is involved in the process of intimal hyperplasia of vein graft.