Effect of androgen on vascular endothelial cell function in rabbits of balloon injury

Objective: To study the influence of androgen on vascular endothelial cell function in rabbits of balloon injury. Methods: Twelve male rabbits were randomly divided into two groups: treatment group and only castrated group. All animals were castrated and performed deendothelializing balloon injury in right iliac artery. Treatment group was received androgen replacement therapy. Nitric oxide(NO) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) were measured in different intervals during the experiment. After 2 weeks of endothelial denudation all animals were killed, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1(VCAM-1) expression was tested with immunohistochemistry and morphological changes were observed with HE staining. Results: Compared with only castrated group, plasma NO levels were significantly reduced and plasma ET-1 levels were significantly increased at 1 week and 2 weeks after endothelial denudation in treatment group(P < 0.01). Meantime VCAM-1 expression and the neointimal area were increased in treatment group(P < 0.001 and P < 0.01, respectively). Conclusion: The high levels of androgens can injury endothelial cell function and promote neointimal formation.