AimTo investigate the effects of rosuvastatin on neointimal hyperplasia and mitofusin 2 (Mfn2) expression after carotid artery balloon injury in rats.MethodsThirty-two male Wistar rats were randomly divided into sham-operated group, model group, rosuvastatin group 1 and group 2.The rats in the two rosuvastatin groups were given rosuvastatin 5 mg/kg or 20 mg/kg daily, respectively.The rats in the model group and the two rosuvastatin groups were induced neointimal hyperplasia by carotid artery balloon injury.After the rats were sacrificed at day 14, HE staining was used to observe the change of vascular morphology.Immunohistochemistry staining and Western blot were performed to measure the expression of Mfn2 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA).Evans blue staining was used to measure the reendothlialized area.ResultsOn the 14 th day after operation, compared with the model group, the neointimal area and intimal/media area ratio were significantly decreased in the two rosuvastatin groups (P<0.01).Mfn2 expression was up-regulated in the two rosuvastatin groups (P<0.01).Rosuvastatin did not inhibit the reendothlialized in the injured carotid arteries.ConclusionsRosuvastatin attenuates neointimal hyperplasia and restenosis in the rat carotid artery balloon injury model, which may be related to up-regulated expression of Mfn2.