Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 30, 2026
A Rabbit Venous Interposition Model Mimicking Revascularization Surgery using Vein Grafts to Assess Intimal Hyperplasia under Arterial Blood Pressure
Published on: May 15, 2020
Effects of atorvastatin on vascular intimal hyperplasia: an experimental rodent model
Unal Aydin1, Murat Ugurlucan, Funda Gungor
1Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Bezm-I Alem Vakif Gureba Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Introduction:
Vascular intimal hyperplasia is associated with increased mortality and morbidity. The authors investigated the effects of atorvastatin on vascular intimal hyperplasia.
Materials And Methods:
Rats were divided into 4 groups. Groups 1, 2, and 3 had experimental aortic injury and received intraperitoneal injection of atorvastatin, solvent, or 0.9% NaCl, respectively. Group 4 was a nonintervention (laparotomy only) control group. Animals were sacrificed after 3 weeks. Blood samples and injured aortic segment were analyzed.
Results:
Atorvastatin administration significantly lowered total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (P = .012 and P = .001, respectively), intima-media ratio (P = .002), and intimal smooth muscle cell accumulation (P < .05) in group 1. Luminal narrowing in animals in group 1 was significantly lower than that in animals in groups 2 and 3, but was higher than in animals in group 4 (P = .009).
Conclusions:
Atorvastatin suppresses intimal hyerplasia and aids in intimal regeneration by lowering blood lipids and intimal smooth muscle cell accumulation.
