title: PolarCath cryoplasty enhances smooth muscle cell apoptosis in a rabbit iliac artery model: an experimental in vivo controlled study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To in vivo investigate the histological response after single and double cryoplasty therapy in a rabbit iliac artery model.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, 40 New Zealand White rabbits underwent percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of the iliac artery using either PolarCath balloon or a conventional angioplasty balloon of equal diameter. Arterial injury, inflammatory response and smooth muscle cells (SMC) apoptosis with the TUNEL (Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP Nick End Labeling) immunohistochemical assay were analyzed. Rabbits were divided between single or double balloon inflation and histological results were compared between cryoplasty and control angioplasty both at 30 min and 72 h.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Arterial injury and wall inflammation scores were low and similar between cryoplasty and control groups after single and double balloon inflation. Compared to conventional balloon angioplasty, Polarcath cryoplasty demonstrated superior SMC apoptosis after single inflation at 30 min [12.0±1.2 cells/(0.025 mm)2 vs 7.0±1.5 cells/(0.025 mm)(2), p=0.002], single inflation at 72 h [9.0±1.0 cells/(0.025 mm)(2) vs 5.4±1.4 cells/(0.025 mm)(2), p=0.001], double inflation at 30 min [11.6±1.5 cells/(0.025 mm)(2) vs 6.8±1.4 cells/(0.025 mm)(2), p=0.001] and double inflation at 72h [9.2±0.8 cells/(0.025 mm)(2) vs 5.0±0.7 cells/(0.025 mm)(2), p=0.001]. There were no significant differences in apoptosis between single and double cryoplasty application at 30 min and 72 h.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cryoplasty demonstrated superior rates of SMC apoptosis at 30 min and 72 h and was associated to relatively low arterial injury and inflammation scores. An immediate second PolarCath inflation did not achieve superior apoptosis.
authors: Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Patras University Hospital, Rion, Greece. stavspiliop@upatras.gr
authors: Stavros
authors: S
authors: Spiliopoulos
authors: Athanasios
authors: A
authors: Diamantopoulos
authors: Konstantinos
authors: K
authors: Katsanos
authors: Panagiota
authors: P
authors: Ravazoula
authors: Dimitrios
authors: D
authors: Karnabatidis
authors: Dimitrios
authors: D
authors: Siablis
mesh_terms: D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D017679:Cryotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007083:Iliac Artery / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology*; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D008297:Male; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology*; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle; D058729:Peripheral Arterial Disease / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011817:Rabbits; D016896:Treatment Outcome