Influence of cilostazol on thromboangiitis obliterans in rats and the mechanism involved

Purpose: To study the effect of Cilostazol on rat thromboangiitis obliterans (TAO), and mechanism action involved.
 Methods: Rats (N = 45) were injected with sodium laurate to establish model TAO, then divided into Sham group (n 15), TAO 15) + cilostazol 15). After administration cilostazol, lesions in rats graded, femoral arteries stained by hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) determine degree vascular lesions. The status endothelial cells was determined using transmission electron microscopy. Furthermore, expression transcription levels hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α growth (VEGF) proteins evaluated Western blotting real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) respectively.
 Results: In contrast group, exhibited symptoms such as changes skin temperature color, limb swelling thanatosis, while damage reversed, cell significantly ameliorated (p < 0.05), translation HIF-1α VEGF suppressed 0.05).
 Conclusion: alleviates laurate-induced via HIF-1α/VEGF pathway. This may provide new insights for treatment TAO.
 Keywords: Cilostazol; Hypoxia-inducible factor/vascular pathway; Thromboangiitis obliterans; Limb swelling; Thanatosis