Superficial intimal injury of the rabbit carotid artery induced by distilled water.

The study of mechanical injury to the aortic endothelium in experimental animals is important in understanding the pathologic processes in atherogenesis. In this investigation distilled water was used to produced superficial injury to the rabbit carotid artery. Sterilized distilled water was injected into a temporarily isolated segment of rabbit carotid artery measuring 0.5 cm in length. After 4 min blood flow was reestablished by removal of the isolating ligatures. The carotid arteries were examined at time intervals of 5 min, 24 h, 48 h, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months after injury. Five min after injury, the carotid endothelial cells were almost completely removed but no medical injury was present. After 24 and 48 h, a few platelets were adherent to the denuded intimal surface. After 1 month, 3 months and 6 months the injured surface showed a slight intimal thickening consisting of modified smooth muscle cells. Our experimental findings suggested that the extent of the injured area is more important in the repair process than its depth.