Establishment of a rat autogenous arteriovenous fistula model following 5/6 nephrectomy

The aim of this study was to establish a stable rat model of autogenous arteriovenous fistula (AVF) with chronic renal function insufficiency. Forty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into an experimental group (n=20) and sham surgery group (n=20) and a 5/6 nephrectomy model was established in the rats. One week later, in the experimental group, the ipsilateral caroid artery was inserted into the external jugular vein by a cuff technique to establish a carotid arteriovenous fistula; in the sham group, the external jugular vein and carotid artery were dissociated. At 7 and 28 days following the establishment of the AVF, the renal functions of the two groups were measured. Hematoxylin and eosin staining and double collagen and elastin staining were conducted to evaluate the area of intimal hyperplasia in the external jugular vein, and the expression of α-smooth muscle actin in the vein was investigated by immunohistochemistry. The creatinine and urea nitrogen levels in the experimental group at each time-point were significantly higher than those in the sham surgery group (P<0.05). The intimal hyperplasia of the external jugular vein of the experimental group was increased significantly compared with that in the sham group at each time-point (P<0.05). The model, which is easy to establish and simple to master, provides a new and feasible experimental method for the study of intimal hyperplasia associated with autogenous AVF in chronic renal insufficiency, and is worthy of wider use.