Effects of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor on the arterial elastase after balloon injury

AIM: To study the effects of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) on elastase after balloon injury. METHODS: The carotid arteries and aortas twelve-weeks-old Wistar male rats were injured by balloon catheter. The rats were divided into experimental and control groups in which ACEI (temocapril-HCl, 10 mg·kg^-1 ·d^-1) and the vehicle were administered 2 days before injury respectively and the animals were sacrificed on day 2, 3, 5 and 10, respectively. In situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry and elastase activity bioassay were used for studying elastase. RESULTS: The intimal area on day 10 in the experimental group was significantly suppressed compared to that in the control rats (P<0.01), positive cells for elastase mRNA, elastase and elastase activities in the media in the experimental groups, at 2, 3 and 5 days were significantly less than those in the control groups respectively (P<0.01, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: AECI (temocapril-HCl) obviously suppressed the elastase expressions and activities of the medial smooth muscle cells after arterial injury, it suggests that elastase expression is related to the involvement of ACE.