Increased endothelin ET(A) receptor expression in rat carotid arteries after balloon injury

Endothelins are vasoactive peptides and are believed to act as vascular smooth muscle mitogens. Vascular injury results in medial smooth muscle migration and proliferation with the formation of a neointima. Using quantitative autoradiography, we examined the expression of endothelin receptor subtypes ET(A) and ET(B) in the rat carotid artery 2, 8, and 16 days after balloon-catheter injury. At two and eight days after balloon catheterization, ET(A) receptor expression was significantly increased in the media of the injured vessel when compared to that in the media of the intact vessel. The enhanced expression of receptors returned to normal levels by 16 days after the injury. Neointimal cells also expressed ET(A) receptors at a lower level than that expressed by the injured media 8 days after injury, and continued to express ET(A) receptors 16 days after the injury. ET(B) receptors were not detectable in the media or the neointima at any time after the injury. Our results suggest the ET(A) receptors may have a significant role in injury induced vascular smooth muscle proliferation and neointima formation.