Effect of total saponins of "panax notoginseng root" on aortic intimal hyperplasia and the expressions of cell cycle protein and extracellular matrix in rats.

AIM OF THE STUDY: the effect of total saponins of "panax notoginseng root" on aortic intimal hyperplasia and the expressions of cell cycle protein and extracellular matrix in rats

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham-operated, control, TSPN and atorvastatin group. Rat aorta intima in all groups were injured by insertion of domestic balloon catheter into the aortae except sham-operated rats. Drugs were administrated orally from the second day after vascular injury and continued for 14 days. The injured segments of aortae were collected on the sixteenth day after operation to observe the morphological changes of vascular structure and to examine the expressions of proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA), cyclinD1, cyclinE, collagen I(Col-I), fibronect(FN), matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9) and tissue inhibitor metalloproteinase-1(TIMP-1).

RESULTS: TPNS significantly inhibited the vascular intimal hyperplasia. TPNS significantly lowered the expression of PCNA, cyclinE, cyclinD1, FN and MMP-9. TPNS had no significant impacts on the expression of Col-I and TIMP-1.

CONCLUSIONS: Our studies indicated that TSPN could inhibit vessel restenosis after vascular intimal injury, and its mechanisms may be related to the blockage of the excessive proliferation of VSMC, the reduction of ECM protein deposition in the endometrium, and the degradation of ECM protein.