Visualization of Synthetic Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells in Atherosclerotic Carotid Rat Arteries by F-18 FDG PET.

ABSTRACT: Synthetic vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) play important roles in atherosclerosis, in-stent restenosis, and transplant vasculopathy. We investigated the synthetic activity of VSMCs in the atherosclerotic carotid artery using ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET). Atherosclerosis was induced in rats by partial ligation of the right carotid artery coupled with an atherogenic diet and vitamin D injections (2 consecutive days, 600,000 IU/day). One month later, rats were imaged by F-18 FDG PET. The atherosclerotic right carotid arteries showed prominent luminal narrowing with neointimal hyperplasia. The regions with neointimal hyperplasia were composed of α-smooth muscle actin-positive cells with decreased expression of smooth muscle myosin heavy chain.

SUBMITTER: Pahk K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5539104 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature