Establishment Of The Rabbit Model Of Atherosclerotic Stenosis In Carotid Artery And Expression Of AEP

Objective To establish a model of carotid atherosclerotic(AS)stenosis in rabbits and to preliminarily investigate the expression of asparaginyl endopeptidase.Methods Twenty New Zealand white rabbits were divided into either model group(n=8)or sham operation group(n=6)or control group(n=6)according to the random number table.The carotid intima was injured by operation in the model group.The rabbits in both the model group and the sham operation group were tested with high fat diets for 10 weeks.The rabbits were weighted and their blood lipids were tested every 2 weeks,At the end of the fifth and tenth weeks after procedure,the plaque and vessel stenosis of the rabbits in both the model group and the sham operation group were observed by MRI.At the end of the tenth week after procedure,the specimens were collected and sliced.Hematoxylin and eosin(HE)staining was used to observe pathological changes in both the model group and the sham operation group.Immunohistochemical staining and western blot were used to analyze the expression of asparaginyl endopeptidase(AEP)in both the model group and the control group.Results One rabbit in the model group died of carotid artery injury.The body quality and the level of blood lipid were increased in the rabbits of both the model group and the sham operation group compared with those before procedure(P<0.01),while the control group did not wary.At the end of the fifth and tenth weeks after procedure,MRI revealed that the luminal stenosis rates in the model group were(16±11)% and(53±20)% respectively.There was significant difference with the group(P<0.01).MRI revealed no luminal stenosis twice in the sham operation group.HE staining showed intimal hyperplasia,AS plaque formation,lipid deposition in the plaques,macrophage and smooth muscle cell migration and infiltration forming foam cel s in the model group.No AS formation was observed in the sham operation group.The expression of AEP was higher in the rabbit carotid artery tissue in the model group,and it expressed rarely in the control group.There was significant difference(P<0.01).Conclusion The methods of injuring carotid intima combined with magnesium containing high-fat may exactly,reliably and quickly to establish an AS carotid artery stenosis model.AEP may associate with the occurrence of AS plaques.