Relationship between the early arterial reaction to hypertension and the development of intimal proliferation

Malignant renal hypertension was induced in male Wistar rats. In the early phase of the disease, ie. the 1st week, a transient and generalized activation of arterial cellular functions was observed, while later, on day 21 widespread intimal proliferations developed in the arteries. This early activation included an increase in transmural permeability, DNA-, protein, collagen, elastin and ground substance synthesis, a rise in mural PGI2 content and an increase in number of Weibel-Palade bodies. An activation of platelets and monocytes could also be detected during the 1st week. In a group of rats the development of malignant hypertension was interrupted following the early activation of arteries and the incidence of intimal proliferations was compared with that of rats with maintained hypertension. No intimal proliferation was observed on day 21 in the rats with interrupted hypertension. It is concluded that the early activation of the artery does not furnish enough stimulus for triggering intimal proliferations and intimal plaques are not direct sequelae of the early arterial reaction. Furthermore the entrance of plasma materials during transmural permeability increase can not induce smooth muscle proliferation if the hypertension is interrupted.