Objective: To investigate the influence of
cerivastatin on cell cycle modulatory factors and proliferation response of vessel
smooth muscle cell after artery injury in animal model.Methods:24 SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups:sham
operation group,operation group,and
cerivastatin group.Each group had 8 rats.Baloon-induced endothelium denudation at thoracic aortae was performed in both the operation group and the cerivastatin group.Three days before and 14 days after the procedure, rats in the cerivastatin group were raised with cerivastatin at the dosage of 0.1 mg/kg·d -1 .All the animals were killed 14 days after procedure,and thoracic Aortae were harvested. We used HE staining and immunohistochemistry staining to measure the protein expressions of cell cycle modulatory factors p27, CDK2, and PCNA. Meanwhile Vessle morphological measurement was taken. Results: Neointima formation was apparent in the arteries from the operation group and was reduced much more in the cerivastatin group( I/M:14.67±3.36 vs 41.50±9.54,P<0.01), while no neointima formation was seen in the sham operation group. Immunohistochemistry staining revealed that p27 protein expressions were high in the middle layer VSMC, while CDK2 and PCNA were not detectable in the sham operation group.p27 protein expressions were high in the the neointima of the operation group and were significantly increased by cerivastatin.In the operation group,the neointima CDK2 and PC-NA were strongly stained and became faint in the cerivastatin group.Conclusion:Cerivastatin surpressed neointima formed after artery injury through up-regulation of p27 and down-regulation of CDK2,PCNA, suggesting that statins are useful in treating vascular proliferate diseases such as AS,post-PTCA restenosis.