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Published on: December 23, 2014
Strain differences in neointimal hyperplasia in the rat
S Assadnia1, J P Rapp, A L Nestor
1Departments of Surgery, Physiology and Molecular Medicine and Pathology, Medical College of Ohio, Toledo, OH, USA.
Circulation Research
|June 12, 1999
Summary
Genetic differences influence neointimal hyperplasia development after vascular injury. Brown-Norway rats showed higher intima percentages, while spontaneously hypertensive rats had lower percentages, indicating a genetic basis for this vascular response.
Area of Science:
- Vascular Biology
- Genetics
- Cardiovascular Research
Background:
- Neointimal hyperplasia is a key process in vascular disease after injury.
- Genetic factors are suspected to play a role in neointimal hyperplasia development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate genetic variability in neointimal hyperplasia among different rat strains.
- To establish a foundation for identifying genes controlling neointimal hyperplasia.
Main Methods:
- Standard balloon injury to the left iliac artery in 11 rat strains.
- Assay of neointimal hyperplasia 8 weeks post-injury using coded microscopic sections.
- Cross-breeding of Brown-Norway (BN) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) to analyze F1 hybrids.
Main Results:
- Significant differences in percentage intima were observed among rat strains (P<0.02).
- Brown-Norway and Dark Agouti rats exhibited the highest intima percentages; SHR rats showed the lowest.
- F1 hybrids displayed intermediate intima percentages between BN and SHR parents, suggesting genetic influence.
Conclusions:
- Rat strain genetics significantly impact neointimal hyperplasia following vascular injury.
- These findings support genetic linkage analysis to identify specific genes involved in neointimal hyperplasia.
- Understanding genetic contributions can inform future therapeutic strategies for vascular diseases.
