Abstract:Aim To investigate the atherosclerotic vascular remodeling by balloon hyperinflation and its possible mechanisms. Method Injury was induced to the right carotid artery by balloon hyperinflation in 10 Guizhou minipigs that were fed by either an atherogenic diet (hyperlipid, n=5) or a standard diet(control, n=5) and examined the resultant lesions 12 months later. The vascular samples was divided into four groups:normal control group, control group with balloon hyperinflated, hyperlipid group and hyperlipid group with balloon hyperinflated. The related indexes of vascular remodeling were observed by means of a computerized image analyzing system, the histopathological examination was performed and angiotensin Ⅱ(Ang Ⅱ), endothelin (ET), nitric oxide (NO), interleukin (IL)-6 of vascular tissues were measured. Results Except the normal control group,there were an artery intima proliferation and pathological vascular remodeling in three groups, especially the hyperlipid group with balloon hyperinflated group in which the maximum intima thickness (MIT) and intima area (IA) increased from 0 to 1.20±0.07 and 2.09±0.10 (p<0.01) respectively, but external elastic laminal area (EELa) decreased from 15.21±0.42 to 9.94±0.32 and internal elastic laminal area (IELa) deczeased from 11.38±0.22 to 6.14±0.16, minimum lumen diameter (MLD) deczeased from 3.64±0.10 to 1.50±0.05. The lumen area (LA) of carotid artery in this group was decreased by 64%. Compared with the normal control group, Ang Ⅱ, ET, IL-6 of vascular tissue in the group increased by 3.4, 4.5 and 3.2 times respectively (p<0.01). Conclusion A single endothelium injury or hyperlipidemia could induce and/or intensify vascular remodeling, Ang Ⅱ, ET, NO, IL-6 and vascular tissue inflammation might play an important role in the process.