THE EFFECTS OF NEBIVOLOL ON INTIMAL HYPERPLASIA FOLLOWING ENDOTHELIAL INJURY: AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY)

Pupose: Intimal hyperplasia is a vascular remodelling process. It is a clinical problem which forms in vascular wall as a result of smooth muscle cell migration, proliferation and extracellular matrix accumulation. In this study we examined the effects of nebivolol on intimal hyperplasia at denadue endothelial tissue.

Methods: The study was made on 21 rabbits which were equally divided into 3 groups. Control, solvent and nebivolol. The rabbits in control group only underwent balloon injury on abdominal aorta. The rabbits in solvent group and nebivolol group underwent balloon injury and were treated with solvent and nebivolol intraperitoneally during the study. At the end of the study, abdominal aortas were harvested. Intimal, medial areas were measured and intima/media ratios were calculated. Tissue nitric oxide levels were detected.

Results: Statistically there were no differences between control and solvent groups at intimal, medial areas, intima/media ratios and tissue NO levels. The neointimal thickening was significantly less in nebivolol group than in control and solvent group (p<0.001). Intima/media ratio was decreased in nebivolol group (p<0.001). Tissue nitric oxide levels were greater in nebivolol group than in control and solvent group (p<0.01).

Conclusion: Nebivolol may be a useful agent at early restenosis after vascular reconstructive procedures. (Turkish J Vasc Surg 2006;15(2):23-31).