[Experimental study of hirudo and Salvia miltiorrhiza on smooth muscle cell hyperplasia after balloon angioplasty].

OBJECTIVE

To find the preventive method of restenosis after transluminal angioplasty (TA).

METHODS

Sixty rabbit iliac arteries of 30 rabbits were divided randomly into three groups, group A, B and C, 20 in each. After experimental atherosclerotic stenosis and TA performing, ordinary forage plus 2 g of hirudo powder was fed to the group A every day, to the group B, 2 g Salvia miltiorrhiza powder was added and to the group C, ordinary forage only. Angiography and pathomorphological examination were carried out 30 days later.

RESULTS

(1) Hirudo significantly reduced the thickness of iliac intima as compared with the other two groups (P < 0.05), the thickness in the group A, B and C was 40.1 +/- 9.8 microns, 48.2 +/- 8.2 microns and 69.3 +/- 9.2 microns respectively. (2) The incidence of restenosis after TA in both group A (31.4%) and group B (48.4%) were significantly lower than that in the group C (62.8%, P < 0.05). And significant difference was also found in comparison of group A and group B (P < 0.05). (3) Ultrastructure change examined by transmission electron microscopy showed that less rough endoplasmic reticulum and more myofilaments in well differentiated smooth muscle cell (SMC) of the arterial intima in the group A and B, while in the group C, more rough endoplasmic reticulum, more synthetic cells were seen in SMC.

CONCLUSIONS

Hirudo and red sage root could effectively inhibit the hyperplasia of SMC in arterial intima and reduce the intima thickness and the incidence of restenosis after TA significantly, thus might play a role in the prevention of restenosis after TA. The effect of hirudo is more potent than that of red sage root.