| We wished to determine whether excessive plasma lipid and insulin, as seen in insulin resistance syndrome, increase neointima hyperplasia after balloon carotid injury. Male Sprague Dawley rats were subjected to either (1) subcutaneous blank implants and a low fat diet (C, n = 9) or (2) porcine insulin implants (1, n = 5) and a low fat diet or (3) blank implants and a high fat diet (F, n = 11) and/or (4) porcine insulin implants and a high fat diet (IF, n = 9). The rats received balloon injury 3 days after and were sacrificed on day 14 post-balloon injury to measure neointima growth. Neointima cross-sectional area was significantly higher (p < 0.01) in F (F = 0.159 ± 0.01mm2) and IF (IF = 0.151 ± 0.014) than C (C = 0.122 ± 0.006). Interestingly, neointima cross-sectional area was significantly lower (p < 0.01) in 1 (I = 0.093 ± 0.004) than C. In conclusion, hyperinsulinemia and hyperlipidemia combined and hyperlipidemia alone enhanced neointima growth whereas hyperinsulinemia alone reduced neointima growth 2 wks after balloon carotid injury. |
