Objective: To investigate the effect of stent coated with diallyl trisulfide on endothelial structure and function after coronary injury.
Methods: Eight adult dogs were randomly divided into 2 equal groups to undergo implantation of stent coated with diallyl trisulfide (drug group) or stent not coated with diallyl trisulfide (control group) into the distal and proximal ends of the left circumflex coronary arteries respectively. Twenty-eight hours later the dogs were killed. Their coronary arteries with the stents inside were taken out and divided into 4 parts: 2 parts underwent light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy and 2 parts underwent immunohistochemistry and Western blotting to examine the levels of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and nitrogen monoxide (NO).
Results: The thickness of intima of the control group was 0.35 mm +/- 0.11 mm, significantly greater than that of the drug group (0.12 mm +/- 0.05 mm, P < 0.01); the area of intima of the control group was 1.81 mm(2) +/- 0.36 mm(2), significantly greater than that of the drug group (1.17 mm(2) +/- 0.25 mm(2), P < 0.05). The endothelial cells in the intima of the drug group were tighter and more orderly than those of the control group. Immunohistochemistry showed that the eNOS protein expression of the drug group was 11.1 +/- 1.9, significantly higher than that of the control group (5.6 +/- 0.6, P < 0.01). Western blotting showed that the eNOS protein expression of the drug group was 37.5 +/- 6.2, significantly higher than that of the control group (10.4 +/- 2.7, P < 0.01). The NO level of the drug group was 279 micromol/L +/- 72 micromol/L. significantly higher than that of the control group (60 micromol/L +/- 57 72 micromol/L, P = 0.01).
Conclusion: Stent coated with diallyl trisulfide promotes the endothelialization and expression of eNOS, and raises the NO level. While promoting the recovery of the endothelial structure, stent coated with diallyl trisulfide promotes the recovery of endothelial function.