EFFECTS OF ANGIOPEPTIN ON TRANSPLANT ARTERIOSCLEROSIS IN THE RAT

The influence of the somatostatin analogue angiopeptin on transplant a rteriosclerosis was investigated using two aortic transplantation rat models. One was characterized by ischemia/reperfusion-induced changes in syngeneic transplants while immunologically induced changes dominat ed in the other allogeneic model. Angiopeptin, 100 mu g/kg per day, wa s administered continuously until the sacrifice of the rats after 8 we eks. No. additional immunosuppression was used in either model. An ima ge analysis system was used to quantify the intimal and medial thickne sses of the grafts. In the syngeneic grafts, the intimal thickness was less than 50 % of that of control grafts (P < 0.05), but no differenc e was seen in the allogeneic model. The expression of selected cells, TGF-beta s, and PDGF and PDGF alpha-receptors was detected immunohisto chemically and displayed a similar picture in control and angiopeptin- treated grafts in both models. We conclude that angiopeptin has no cle ar immunosuppressive properties but may counteract ischemia-induced tr ansplant arteriosclerosis.