title: A novel model of intimal hyperplasia with graded hypoosmotic damage.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose was to develop a rabbit model of intimal hyperplasia with controllable lesion.
  
  
  METHODS
  Following 1 week of a 2% cholesterol diet, 32 New Zealand White male rabbits underwent right femoral arteries surgical perfusion with distilled water for 1, 3, 5, or 7 min (n=8/group). After a further 4 weeks of the same diet, serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein, and high-density lipoprotein were measured in all rabbits. Intimal hyperplasia in histological sections of arteries were assessed by intimal proliferation ratio. Macrophage numbers and levels of proteins matrix metalloproteinase 9, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 2, and alpha smooth muscle actin in lesions were analyzed by immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum lipids levels showed no statistical difference between experimental groups. Intimal proliferation ratio increased gradually with perfusion time, and a positive linear correlation was calculated between intimal proliferation ratio and duration of distilled water perfusion. Similarly, number of macrophages and levels of matrix metalloproteinase 9, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 2, and alpha smooth muscle actin in lesions increased with perfusion time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A novel model of intimal hyperplasia was established by intravascular distilled water perfusion in high-cholesterol-fed rabbits. Importantly, this model exhibits time-dependent neointimal proliferation lesions that can be readily controlled in terms of extent, thus providing an avenue for further studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, First Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150001, Heilongjiang, China.
authors.forename: Mowei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Hong-tao
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Jin-jin
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Xin-gang
authors.initials: XG
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: Cheng-hai
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Hong-yu
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Ye
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tian
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002452:Cell Count; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary / Q000009:adverse effects; D004036:Diet, Atherogenic; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D006965:Hyperplasia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism; D009997:Osmotic Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D011817:Rabbits; D013997:Time Factors; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9