THE EFFECT OF VITAMIN-E AND DOXYCYCLINE ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF INTIMALHYPERPLASIA

The goal of this study is to evaluate the influence of vitamin E (alph a-tocopherol) and doxycycline on the development of intimal hyperplasi a in the injured rabbit carotid artery. Three groups of New Zealand Wh ite rabbits (10 rabbits each) underwent standardized balloon catheter injury of the carotid artery. One group received 300-400 U/kg of vitam in E orally each day for 4 weeks; another group received 10 mg/kg of d oxycycline orally twice daily for 4 weeks and the final group remained as a control group. No statistically significant differences in the d egree of intimal hyperplasia development were noted between either tre atment group and controls (P > 0.60 for vitamin E, P > 0.40 for doxycy cline). We conclude that neither vitamin E nor doxycycline appear to b e of benefit in reducing intimal hyperplasia in the injured rabbit car otid artery. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.