Use of rosiglitazone before and after vascular injury in hypercholesterolemic rabbits: Assessment of neointimal formation.
OBJECTIVE
To analyse the effects of rosiglitazone administered at different times on neointimal formation in hypercholesterolemic rabbits following vascular injury.


METHODS
Thirty-nine rabbits on a hypercholesterolemic diet were included. The animals underwent balloon catheter injury to the right iliac artery on day 14. They were divided into three groups as follows: control group, 13 rabbits without rosiglitazone; group I, 13 rabbits treated with rosiglitazone (3 mg/Kg body weight/day) for 28 days after the vascular injury; and group II, 13 rabbits treated with rosiglitazone (3 mg/Kg body weight/day) during all the experiment (42 days). Histological analysis was done by an experienced pathologist who was unaware of the rosiglitazone treatment. Histomorphometric parameters were performed by calculation of the luminal and intimal layer area, and intima/media layer area ratio (the area of the intimal layer divided by the area of the medial layer).


RESULTS
Intimal area was significantly lower in group II vs. CG (p = 0.024) and group I (p = 0.006). Luminal layer area was higher in group II vs. CG (p < 0.0001) and group I (p < 0.0001). Intima/media layer area ratio was equal between CG and group I. Intima/media layer ratio area was significantly lower in group II vs. control group (p < 0.021) and group I (p < 0.003). There was a significant reduction of 65% and 71% in intima/media layer area ratio in group II vs. control group and group I, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Pretreatment with rosiglitazone in hypercholesterolemic rabbits submitted to vascular injury significantly reduces neointimal formation.
Alessi
Alexandre
A
Center of Health and Biological Sciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná, Brazil. lizandreabaroncini@hotmail.com.
França Neto
Olímpio Ribeiro
OR
Brofman
Paulo Roberto Slud
PR
Prim
Camila
C
Noronha
Lucia
L
Silva
Ruy Fernando Kuenzer Caetano
RF
Baroncini
Liz Andréa Villela
LA
Précoma
Dalton Bertolim
DB