Jc. Chen et al., SOMATOSTATIN RECEPTOR EXPRESSION IN RAT ILIAC ARTERIES AFTER BALLOON INJURY, Journal of investigative surgery, 10(1-2), 1997, pp. 17-23
Somatostatin is a general inhibitory hormone that exerts its effects t
hrough five functionally distinct receptor subtypes (SSTR1-5). Somatos
tatin analogues have been shown to be effective in inhibiting intimal
hyperplasia after balloon induced vascular injury. However, the exact
SSTR subtype responsible for the inhibitory effect of somatostatin on
intimal hyperplasia is unknown. The purpose of this study was to defin
e the presence and abundance of SSTR subtypes in a rat iliac balloon i
njury model of intimal hyperplasia. Transaortic balloon injury of the
rat iliac artery was carried out. Rats were sacrificed at 48 h, 1 week
, and 1 month postinjury, and perfusion fixed and stained with antibod
ies against SSTR2, 3, and 5. SSTR2 was identified on the intimal surfa
ces of normal and injured vessels. SSTR2 immunoreactivity was more pro
minent at 1 week and 1 month postinjury compared with 48 h postinjury.
There was no immunostaining with SSTR3 and SSTR5 antibodies. The resu
lts show that SSTR2 is expressed on endothelial cells in normal and in
jured rat vessels. Its abundance in the injured vessel was increased u
p to 1 month postinjury.