In vivo endothelialization and neointimal hyperplasia assessment after rabbit carotid endarterectomy with bovine pericardium

Abstract

Background Previous studies have reported that the use of a patch in carotid endarterectomy (CEA) surgery can reduce the rate of restenosis and perioperative complications. The goal of this study was to compare the short- and medium-term outcomes of endothelialization and neointimal hyperplasia of patch closure (PC) angioplasty in CEA with direct closure (DC) in a rabbit model. A bovine pericardial patch (BPP) was used in the PC procedures. Methods Two carotid arteries were dried by air flow to simulate endarterectomy and selected for PC and DC in each rabbit. Different animals were sacrificed at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 8 weeks after the procedure. The endarterectomized segments were extracted and examined microscopically with histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis, and electron-microscopy measurements. Results In all, 19 rabbits were included in this study; 3 rabbits were placed in a 2-week postoperative group and 4 rabbits were placed in the 1-, 3-, 4-, and 8-week postoperative group respectively. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining showed neointima on the PC side at an early stage (1-week postoperatively), and intimal hyperplasia could be seen on both sides. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that Ki-67 was higher on the PC side than on the DC side at an early stage (1,661.5±1,122.9 cells/mm2, P=0.060). In the 2-week postoperative group, von Willebrand factor (vWF) was higher on the DC side (-377.0±155.6 cells/mm2, P=0.052). Alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) values were comparable on both sides (P>0.05). Electron microscopy measurements showed that functional endothelial cells exhibited a cobblestone-like morphology and were nicely elongated in the direction of blood flow. Conclusions The use of BPP in PC angioplasty during CEA can maintain stability and also provide rapid endothelialization. PC with BPP has comparable ability of efficient endothelialization with DC, but is more likely to have early endothelialization.