Delivery Of ENOS Gene Using Sonovue Inhibits Thoracoabdominal Aorta Atherosclerosis Of Rabbit Loaded With High Fat Diet

Objective: To investigate the effects of eNOS gene on the progression of thoracoabdominal aorta atherosclerosis in rabbit loaded with high fat diet after eNOS gene delivery by using ultrasound with SonoVue.Methods: We constructed and identified the pEGFP-eNOS recombinant.While the mixture of SonoVue and pEGFP-eNOS was injected though helix vien, the thoracoabdominal aorta of rabbits were sonicated by ultrasound for 3min. The arterial vessels of rabbits were harvested at 2, 7and 14 days after delivery for fluorescence microscopy and Western blot analyses of eNOS expression. 38 New Zealand White rabbits were divided into 3 groups, the control group, the AS model group and the eNOS prevention group. After 4 weeks, the arterial vessels of rabbits were harvested to analysis intima and medium thickness by HE staining andα-actin immunohistochemistry. After 8 weeks, the arterial vessels of rabbits were harvested to analysis the process of atheromatous plaque by oil red O staining.Results: eNOS gene delivered by using ultrasound with SonoVue could be transfered into the deep area of rabbit abdominal aorta wall. The expression of eNOS gene was detected at 2 days after delivery and still observed up to 14 days. The eNOS gene delivery could inhibit the hyperplasia of intima and medium and the progression of thoracoabdominal aorta atherosclerosis in rabbit loaded with high fat diet. Compared with those of AS model group, the mean of intima/medium thickness ratio and plaque/intima size ratio were reduced by 43.55% and 45.19% respectively.Conclusion: Ultrasound with SonoVue can mediate eNOS gene transfer into the deep area of rabbit aorta vessel wall. The eNOS gene delivered by SonoVue can inhibit the hyperplasia of aorta intima and medium and slow down the AS progression in rabbit loaded with high fat diet.