Endothelial regeneration in hypertensive and genetically hypercholesterolemic rats.

Endothelial regeneration after a narrow, superficial aortic injury was studied in rats with chronic Goldblatt hypertension, genetic hypercholesterolemia, or a combination of hypertension and genetic hypercholesterolemia. In all groups, endothelial continuity was restored within 24 to 36 hours by a combination of endothelial migration and proliferation. A line of increased endothelial density covering the previous wound was seen through 16 weeks after injury. Intimal thickening after injury did not occur in any of the groups. These results indicate that hypertension and hypercholesterolemia neither delay endothelial regeneration nor cause intimal thickening after a small injury in the rat.