Chronological changes in morphometry and histology in the rabbit vascular wall after external radiation for the prevention of intimal hyperplasia.

Background: Although ionizing radiation has been proposed for the prevention of intimal hyperplasia in coronary and peripheral arteries, information is lacking on how irradiation affects arterial histology and neointimal smooth-muscle cell proliferation-the hallmark of restenosis. We chronologically investigated early histological changes and quantitative changes in arterial wall cell proliferation after arterial injury followed by external radiation for the prevention of intimal hyperplasia in rabbits.

Materials And Methods: The aorta was experimentally injured in 26 rabbits who were then assigned to two groups: irradiation with 20 Gy and a control group with no irradiation.