Metallic vascular endoprotheses (stents) have been introduced clinically to
help to retain or to restore a patent vascular lumen after balloon angiopl
asty and to improve long-term patency of vessels. Despite the widespread us
e of intracoronary stents, instent restenosis remains a major clinical prob
lem. During the last years considerable research effort had been spent on t
he understanding of the pathophysiology of restenosis and developing strate
gies to prevent this major shortcoming of PTCA and stent implantation. The
current review focuses in its first part on basic pathophysiological mechan
isms, which are involved in the formation of restenosis after ballon angiop
lasty and stent implantation. In the second part different animal models ar
e presented, which serve as experimental models for examining these process
es and testing strategies for the prevention of restenosis. Advantages and
disadvantages of each model will be discussed, which are important when tra
nsferring results from animal models to clinical practice.