| Abstract | The article investigates the mechanism of smooth muscle cells apoptosis after balloon injury to vessel, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) and immunohistochemistry were adopted to measure the percentage of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) apoptosis and the expression of angiotensin II subtype I receptor (AT(1)R). Compared with sham's, the expression of AT(1)R protein in vascular media was significantly increased at 3 days after balloon injury (P<0.05), and then did not change significantly. At 7 days, it was approximately twice in intima as that in media. At 28 days it reached its peak. VSMCs apoptosis occurred in vascular media at 3 days after balloon injury and reached a peak in media and intima where apoptosis was mainly present at 7 days, then decreased. At 28 days after balloon injury, only a few apoptotic cells were in intima. AT(1)R antagonist (irbesartan) significantly increased VSMCs apoptosis. The article thus concludes that AT(1)R is upregulated after balloon injury and angiotensin II inhibits VSMC apoptosis by binding to AT(1)R. |
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