Objective: To investigate the effect of Icariin (ICA) on intimal proliferation and apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cell after vascular injury in rat. Method : Fourty-four rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: natural group

model group and ICA 60

120 mg ·kg-1 group.Rat model of carotid restenosis induced by balloon injury was established. Rats of ICA group were treated with drugs for 2 or 4 weeks. Then the neointimal area(IA)

medial area (MA)

and neointimal area(IA)/medial area(MA) were analyzed by computerized digitizer system. TUNEL method was used to detected the apoptosis in the artery. Result :At each time point

the lumem area was larger and the neointima area was smaller in all the treated groups compared with that in model group (P<0.01). The expression of vascular smooth muscle cell apoptosis in the vascular in all the treated groups was increased

that of the model group (2 w

4 w) being the lowest (P <0.01). Conclusion : ICA can effectively repress neointimal proliferation after vascular injury

The effect may be associated with its action of promoting apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells.