Stenosis progression after surgical injury in Milan hypertensive rat carotid arteries

Milan hypertensive rats (MHS) are characterised by an increase in renal sodium reabsorption mainly related to adducin mutations. Interest in this model relies on the genetic link between adducin polymorphisms and primary hypertension, observed also in a subset of patients. To investigate the molecular and morphological events involved in carotid stenosis and triggered by surgery in MHS model. Stenosis was induced through arteriotomy. At different times after injury, the expression profiles of various gene families were investigated by semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), while histological techniques were used to follow morphometric and morphological changes. Apoptotic nuclei were revealed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-dUTP nick end labelling (TUNEL). mRNAs coding for transcription factors c-jun, c-fos and c-myc were rapidly induced by injury. Analysis of apoptosis-related genes revealed a decrease of the Bcl-2/Bax ratio 4 h after vascular trauma (P