Study On SMCs Proliferation And Apoptosis Of The Splenic Arteries In Portal Hypertensive Patients

Objective To study on the proliferation and apoptosis of vascucar smooth muscle cell and its influence on the splenic artery remodeling and splanchnic high dynamic circulation in portal hypertension patients.Methods The pathological changes and the expression of Ki-67,Bax and Bcl-2 protein of splenic artery wall were studied in 21 patients with portal hypertension and 7 normal subjects, using light and electron microscope and immunohistochemistry.Result Compared with normal individuals, the splenic artery of portal hypertensive patients showed that the intima was thickened, split and broken, and the smooth muscle layer of middle membrance was thicker and migrated to under intima space. In portal hypertensive patients, apoptosis,regression,atrophy or hyperplasia were seem in smooth muscle cells whose contractile phenotype changed to synthetic phenotype as well. The immunostraining-positive cells of Ki-67, Bax and Bcl-2 were (35.82±11.17) %, (32.23±11.05) % and (8.80±4.51) % in portal hypertensive patients, respectively. In control group, all of these were (2.41±2.42) %, (1.53±2.32) % and (2.22±1.95) % ,respectively. The comparison between portal hypertension and control group is significant difference (P﹤0.01).Conclusion: Proliferation and apoptosis of vascular smooth cells occurred in splenic artery of patients with portal hypertension, which might involve in the regulation of splenic artery remodeling,including the damage to contractile structure and the decrease of atery reation to contractile vasoactive materials. It might be one of the reasons to promote the formation of splanchnic high dynamic circulation in portal hypertensive patients.