Blood flow decrease induces apoptosis of endothelial cells in previously dilated arteries resulting from chronic high blood flow

We investigated apoptosis of endothelial cells during the arterial narrowin g process in response to reduction in flow, The decrease in flow was coated in the carotid artery by closure of an arteriovenous fistula (AVF), which had been established for 28 days in rabbits. The endothelial cell apoptosis in the carotid artery was studied at 1, 3, 7, and 21 days of flow reductio n after closure of the AVF by use of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase- mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) with laser scanning confocal micros copy and transmission and scanning electron microscopy. After AVF closure, arterial lumen diameter was reduced by 36%, and compared with endothelial c ells before the closure, the number of endothelial cells was decreased by 4 5% at 21 days. Endothelial cell apoptosis was observed at 1 day, peaked at 3 days (381.3 +/- 87.1 cells per square millimeter), and decreased at 7 day s. These cells had irregular protrusions under scanning electron microscopy and were characterized by fragmented nuclei under transmission electron mi croscopy, Apoptotic cells were mainly beneath the endothelium and were occa sionally within smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells. The results sugg est that apoptosis of endothelial cells may play a role in the arterial rem odeling in response to a reduction in flow.