Mechanism of vascular remodeling after rabbit jugular vein graft arteriaª²lization

    TAO Dengª²Shun, WANG Huiª²Shan, WANG Zengª²Wei, ZHU Hongª²Yu, GAO Wenª²Gen, WANG Jianª²Sheng, YANG Liª²Jun

    Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, General Hospital, Shenyang Military Area Command, Shenyang 110016, China

    ¡¾Abstract¡¿ AIM: To establish a rabbit model of carotid arterial venous bridge bypass graft and observe the pathological change of the vein bridge at different phases, to detect the expressions of PCNA and ¦Áª²actin, cell apoptosis, and to investigate the mechanism of vein graft remodeling. METHODS: The common carotid artery and external jugular vein of 30 rabbits were dissociated and anastomosed side by side, so that arterial blood went through external jugular vein bridge. Vein bridges get at different time points after operation were analyzed quantitatively in regard to the thickness of intima and media, and observed in the expressions of PCNA and ¦Áª²actin and cell apoptosis. RESULTS: All rabbits survived. The vein bridge kept smooth. The intima and media proliferated obviously. The wall of vein graft thickened, but the intima proliferated unequally, to the peak in 2ª² 4 weeks. The expression of PCNA occurred in both intima and media, while the expression of ¦Áª²actin occurred only in intima. Cell apoptosis occurred 1 week after operation in intima and media and peaked until 4 weeks. CONCLUSION: Rabbit jugular vein after carotid arterial venous bridge bypass graft showed an unirregular increase in the wall thickness. Proliferation occurred at the early stage mainly in intima. Proliferation of smooth muscle cells in media and their migration into intima , cell apoptosis may all participate in vein graft remodeling. ......