[Effect of vitamin E on the endothelial function of the regenerated aorta in rats following direct arterial injury].

Fibromuscular intimal injury is frequent after coronary or peripheral angioplasty. Peroxidation of circulating and membrane lipids have been implicated in intimal hyperplasia and endothelial dysfunction following direct arterial trauma. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of natural membrane antioxidant, vitamin E (VE), on the vascular reactivity of the regenerated endothelium. A first group of rats (n = 10) was pretreated with VE 100 IU/kg/day for a week before undergoing aortic (thoracic) endothelial denudation with a Fogarty catheter. Rats were then fed with the same VE supplemented diet for a 2-month period. A second group (n = 10), was similarly denudated and fed with soya oil (SO), VE vehicle, for the same period. A third group (n = 10) was denuded and used as control (CL). Endothelial-dependent and independent relaxations were assessed in organ chambers with acetylcholine (ACH), adenosine diphosphate (ADP), histamine (HIS), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP). Endothelial regeneration was evaluated with Evans blue staining. Vascular relaxation to SNP was not affected either by the regeneration process or the VE supplementation. However, endothelial-dependent relaxation to ACH and HIS were significantly impeded in the regenerated endothelium compared to control but was not influenced by the VE or the SO supplementation. Vascular contraction to 5-HT was significantly decreased in VE group compared to the other groups. Morphometric studies with Evans blue staining showed over 95% regeneration of the endothelial surface of the denuded aortas. Our results suggest that in spite of a complete anatomical regeneration, endothelial cells did not resume predenudation function. Endothelial-independent relaxation was preserved in all groups indicating that smooth muscle function was not altered by the regenerating process. The presence of dietary supplement of VE (up to 20 fold the daily requirement) did not prevent the endothelial dysfunction to ACH and HIS but attenuated the vaso-contraction to 5-HT and then could contribute to decreased vascular tone in endothelium-regenerated vessels.