Gangliosides in rat femoral injury: Early effect on intimal hyperplasia

Previous studies demonstrated that some immunosupressive agents inhibit art erial intimal hyperplasia. Our previous studies demonstrated that gangliosi des (Gang) have an immunosuppressive effect on as well as an anti-inflammat ory role in the wound-healing process. Therefore, we decided to examine the effect of Gang on intimal hyperplasia, Twenty Wistar isogenic rats receive d a transverse division of the anterior wall of the femoral artery, followe d by suturing using mononylon 10-0 under surgical microscopy and were then divided into two groups: Gang group, 3 mg/kg per day of Gang, and control g roup, vehicle, intramuscularly from surgery to death (1 and 3 weeks, respec tively). Concentric intimal hyperplasia was observed in arteries stained by hematoxylin-eosin in control and Gang groups, However, the media layer did not demonstrate any major alterations. After 3 weeks, the Gang group showe d more intimal hyperplasia than the control group. Therefore, because intim al hyperplasia worsened in the presence of Gang after 3 weeks, further stud ies will be necessary to clarify its role in intimal proliferation. (C) 200 1 Wiley-Liss, Inc.