N-acetyl-cysteine reduces neointimal thickening and procoagulant activity after balloon-induced injury in abdominal aortae of New Zealand white rabbits.
BACKGROUND
Procoagulant activity and oxidative stress generated by balloon injury to normal vessels promote the migration of medial smooth muscle cells and their proliferation in the intima. We hypothesised that administering levo N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) i.v. at the time of injury, and s.c. before and after injury would reduce neointimal formation 4 weeks later and would regulate procoagulant activity in vessels with neointima undergoing ballooning a second time.


RESULTS
at the time of injury rabbits received: NAC, unfractionated heparin (HEP) or both (NAC + HEP). Neointimal thickening at 28 days, calculated as the ratio between the intimal and medial area, was attenuated after NAC, HEP and NAC+HEP by 39%, 30% and 47% respectively when compared to untreated injured animals (CONTROLS) (p <0.05). At 28 days, bound thrombin activity and platelet adhesion 1 h after a repeated balloon injury decreased in animals receiving NAC, HEP and NAC+HEP bv 54%, 63% and 64% for thrombin activity (p <0.05 vs CONTROLS), and by 56%, 66% and 75% respectively for 111Indium-platelet deposition (p <0.05 vs CONTROLS).


CONCLUSIONS
NAC in-vivo was effective in reducing neointimal thickening and procoagulant response after balloon injury.
Ghigliotti
G
G
Department of Cardiology, University of Genova, Italy. gghiglio@cardio.dimi.unige.it
Mereto
E
E
Eisenberg
P R
PR
Martelli
A
A
Orsi
P
P
Sini
D
D
Spallarossa
P
P
Olivotti
L
L
Brunelli
C
C
D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology; D002404:Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002455:Cell Division; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006493:Heparin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006965:Hyperplasia; D008297:Male; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000473:pathology; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010973:Platelet Adhesiveness; D011817:Rabbits; D013925:Thromboplastin / Q000378:metabolism*; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000187:drug effects; D014945:Wound Healing
D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D006493:Heparin; D013925:Thromboplastin; D000111:Acetylcysteine