Following a single balloon catheter injury to a rabbit aorta (INJ 1) a monolayer of platelets covers the subendothelium within 10 min, the surface becomes relatively non-reactive to further platelet accumulation and platelet survival is not altered. We have now studied whether a second similar injury (INJ 2) of the non-reactive, smooth muscle cell-rich neointima 7 days after INJ 1 makes the surface of the neointima reactive to platelets or alters platelet survival. 51Cr-platelet adherence to the neointima of aortae subjected to INJ 2 in vitro 7 days after an initial in vivo injury was not significantly different from the adherence following a single in vitro injury (16,600 ± 3100 platelets/mm2 and 27,600 ± 4000 respectively, ρ > 0.2). In vivo adherence of 51Cr-platelets to the surface of rabbit aortae was similar following INJ 1 (0.084 ± 0.009% of the circulate, platelets) and INJ 2 (0.130 ± 0.03%, p > 0.2). Platelet survival after injury to the neointima was not significantly different in animals with an undamaged aortic endothelium (74.6 ± 5.9 hr and 80.2 ± 4.3 hr respectively, ρ > 0.5). Thus, a second injury involving the smooth’ muscle cell-rich neointima that forms after removal of the endothelium with a balloon catheter does not cause more platelets to accumulate than the initial injury, nor shorten platelet survival.
Nrf2 Gene Transfer Induces Antioxidant Enzymes and Suppresses Smooth Muscle Cell Growth In Vitro and Reduces Oxidative Stress in Rabbit Aorta In Vivo