title: Quantitative image analysis of cell proliferation after balloon catheter injury in the rabbit carotid artery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To perform color image analysis to assess the course of morphometric and proliferative changes in the intima and media of rabbit carotid arteries following balloon injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  Proliferating smooth muscle cells were labeled with proliferating cell nuclear antigen and vizualized by immunohistochemical staining of histologic sections. Morphometry was performed on histologic cross-sections of injured arteries stained with hematoxylin.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The development of intimal hyperplasia following an acute mechanical injury was detectable early on and was accompanied by a burst of cell proliferation. Medial cell proliferation peaked on day 3 after balloon injury, and the maximum of intimal cell proliferation was noted on day 7.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The color image analysis method described here could be a useful tool in evaluating drugs for their ability to prevent restenosis.
authors: Centre de recherche, Laboratoires Fournier, Daix, France.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Robert
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Fouchet
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Vergely
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Pruneau
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Bélichard
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000473:pathology*; D020212:Carotid Artery Injuries; D002404:Catheterization / Q000379:methods*; D002455:Cell Division; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000473:pathology*; D011817:Rabbits; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000473:pathology*