[The expression of sonic hedgehog in rat vein grafts].
OBJECTIVE
To study the expression of cell cycle related factor sonic hedgehog (SHH) in autogenous vein graft and its relation with neointima formation.


METHODS
Autogenous vein graft model were established in 24 male Wistar rats of 8 weeks old and 140 g weight, by transplanting the left jugular vein to intra renal abdominal aorta with microsurgical technique. Graft veins were harvested at 14 d and 28 d after transplantation. The immunohistochemistry and Western blot were used to detect the SHH and PCNA expression in the vein graft. At the same time SHH mRNA was measured by quantitative real-time PCR. The opposite normal veins served as control.


RESULTS
Histological staining showed that the percent of SHH+ cells was only (2.0 +/- 0.5)% in the normal vein, but was much more in the vein graft after surgery, as (39.4 +/- 0.4)% and (63.0 +/- 0.3)% respectively (P < 0.01). The expression of SHH and PCNA were both elevated in the vein graft. There was a positive correlation between them which indicated by Western blot (r = 0.808, P < 0.01). The SHH mRNA content also increased in vein graft to 9.5 and 23.8 folds of that in control.


CONCLUSIONS
SHH is upregulated in autogenous vein grafts and may correlated with the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells.
Li
Feng-he
FH
Department of Vascular Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, China.
Xin
Shi-jie
SJ
Hui
Lin-ping
LP
Cui
Ze-shi
ZS
Zhao
Lei
L
Yang
Yu
Y
Zhang
Jian
J
Duan
Zhi-quan
ZQ
D000818:Animals; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D058426:Neointima / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000378:metabolism; D014680:Veins / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000637:transplantation
D053823:Hedgehog Proteins