Effect of rosuvastatin on proliferation of intima of aorta and expression of TGF-β1 in rabbits with balloon injury of aorta

Objective To evaluate the effect of rosuvastatin on intimal hyperplasia in abdominal aorta and expression of TGF-β1 after balloon injury of aorta in rabbits.Methods Twenty male New Zealand rabbits were used to reproduce the model of injured abdominal aorta with balloon,and then they were divided randomly into two groups(10 each): rosuvastatin group and control group.Rabbits in control group were given aspirin 25mg/d and clopidogrel 25mg/d,while in rosuvastatin group the rabbits received additional rosuvastatin at a dose of 1mg/(kg·d).Abdominal aorta angiography and blood biochemical examination were done 6 weeks after administration of the durgs,and the vascular wall specimens were obtained from the injured aorta.They were studied under microscope with HE staining,and the proliferation of aortic intima and the expression of TGF-β1 were then analyzed.Results The abdominal aorta angiography showed that the diameters of aorta at the narrowest part was 32% larger in rosuvastatin group(1.74±0.25mm) than in control group(1.32±0.33mm),and the extent of stenosis was decreased by 43% in rosuvastatin group(31.41%±7.08%) than in control group(55.25%±10.23%).HE staining showed the thickness of intima decreased by 50% in rosuvastatin group(0.04±0.02mm) than in control group(0.08±0.03mm),and the lumen area in rosuvastatin group(3.9±0.03mm2) was 1.63 times larger than that in control group(2.4±0.02mm2).The average absorbence rate and the area of positive TGF-β1 were significantly lower in rosuvastatin group than in control group(0.413±0.13 vs 0.568±0.17;22.37%±4.42% vs 40.58%±7.45%,respectively,P < 0.05).Conclusion Rosuvastatin may inhibit the neointimal hyperplasia after balloon injury of the abdominal aorta in rabbits through down regulating the expression of TGF-β1.