COMPLETE LOSS OF FUNCTIONAL SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLS PRECEDES VASCULAR REMODELING IN RAT AORTA ALLOGRAFTS

Abstract

These results indicate that, after Tx, the contractile property of rat aorta allografts is altered before manifest vascular remodeling. Because this can be prevented by cyclosporine, it most likely reflects an acute rejection of SMC. These results also show that vascular graft dysfunction can be used to monitor the development of rejection in the rat aorta allograft model.