Effect of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy on Proliferation and Migration of Venous Vascular Smooth Muscle in Early Rabbit Arteriovenous Fistula Model

The aim of this study was to develop a rabbit model of arteriovenous fistula (AVF) and then use it to evaluate the effects of Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy on proliferation and migration of venous vascular smooth muscle cells in early stage. A total of 36 New Zealand rabbits were fed with adenine diet in order to establish a chronic renal failure model. The rabbits were randomly divided into three groups (n=12 for each group): the sham group underwent sham operation; the AVF alone group underwent fistulization, but did not receive HBOT therapy; the AVF+HBO group underwent fistulization and received HBO therapy. We used Masson staining to detect the vein intimal hyperplasia and vascular remodeling. The expression levels of α-SMA, PCNA, PDGF-BB, VEGF-A, TNF-α and MMP-9 were analyzed by Immunohistochemical staining and Western blot. The expression levels of α-SMA, PDGF-BB and VEGF-A were assessed by RT-PCR assay. Compared with the sham group, the elastic fibers of the venous wall increased significantly, the venous intima media became thicker, and the blood vessels remodeled significantly in the AVF alone group. Compared with the AVF alone group, the proliferation of the venous-wall elastic fibers were inhibited and the expression of related proteins and mRNAs were decreased in the AVF+HBO group. Our study suggested that continuous HBO therapy following AVF could not only significantly inhibit the proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells in AVF-vein tissue, but also improve vascular remodeling.

CSTR: 32200.14.cjcb.2019.04.0013