Total saponins of Panax notoginseng protected rabbit iliac artery against balloon endothelial denudation injury.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether total Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) could protect endothelium of rabbit iliac artery against balloon endothelial denudation (BED) injury.


METHODS
The morphology changes of the endothelium were observed with scanning electron microscope (SEM) and hematoxylin and eosin stain after BED of rabbit iliac artery at 0, 4, 6, and 8 week respectively. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) was also determined by immunohistochemistry. PNS 10, 30, and 50 mg/kg were administered iv per day from 2 d before to 4 weeks after operation.


RESULTS
The endothelium was denudated completely after BED. At the 4th week the endothelium was repaired in some degree, then recovered gradually at 6 and 8 week. The degree of intimal thickening at 4 week was significantly greater than that at 0, 6, or 8 week. The sequence of VEGF or MMP-2 staining from strong to weak was 4, 6, 0, 8 week, and normal control. However at 4 week, endothelial regeneration in PNS 30 and 50 mg/kg groups was significantly faster than that in saline group. The intimal thickness was significantly decreased and expressions of VEGF and MMP-2 were both down-regulated in PNS 30 or 50 mg/kg groups compared with saline control group.


CONCLUSIONS
PNS promoted the endothelial regeneration and reduced ECM thickening, which was related to regulation of the expression of VEGF and MMP-2. PNS may have sustained antirestenotic effect after BED.
Chen
Si-Wei
SW
Department of Cardiology, the 4th Affliated Hospital of Ji-nan University, Pharmacy College, Ji-nan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
Li
Xiao-Hong
XH
Ye
Kai-He
KH
Jiang
Zuo-Feng
ZF
Ren
Xian-Da
XD
D000818:Animals; D002404:Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D036145:Ginsenosides / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007083:Iliac Artery / Q000293:injuries / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D005894:Panax / Q000737:chemistry; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011817:Rabbits; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
D036145:Ginsenosides; D020011:Protective Agents; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2