SUPPRESSION OF SMOOTH-MUSCLE CELL-PROLIFERATION AFTER EXPERIMENTAL PTFE ARTERIAL GRAFTING - A ROLE FOR POLYCLONAL ANTI-BASIC FIBROBLAST-GROWTH-FACTOR (BFGF) ANTIBODY

Objectives: to determine the role of polyclonal anti-basic Fibroblast Growth Factor (bFGF) antibody in inhibiting the proliferation of smoot h muscle cells after experimental polytetrafluorethilene (PTFE) arteri al grafting. Materials: in 14 male inbred Lewis rats (weight 250 mg) a 1 cm long segment of PTFE was interposed at the level of abdominal ao rta. Animals were randomised to receive polyclonal anti-bFGF antibody (group A: n=seven animals) or aspecific immunoglobulin (group B: n=sev en animals). Anti-bFGF antibody or aspecific immunoglublin were given intraperitoneally at the end of operation, and for the first 2 postope rative days. Animals were sacrificed 7 days after surgery, 24 h after intraperitoneal injection of BromodeoxyUridin (BrdU) to label prolifer ating smooth muscle cells. Results: one animal in each group died in t he immediate postoperative period due to anaesthetic problems. All gra fts were patent at the time of sacrifice. BrdU labelling index was sta tistically higher in the control, group B animals at the level of the anastomotic regions (proximal anastomosis: group B 7.9% vs, group A 4. 1%. Distal anastomosis: group B 5.1% vs, group A 2.6% p = 0.009) and a t the level of PTFE graft (group B 3.8% vs. group A 2.6% p=0.002), whi le there was no stastitical difference between the control thoracic ao rta of the two groups. Main conclusions: bFGF plays a major role in th e proliferation of smooth muscle cells at the level of the anastomoses after arterial PTFE grafting. Agents able to block the action of bFGF may be useful in inhibiting the formation of myointimal hyperplasia.