Effect of pancreatopeptidase E (elastase) on the suppression of intimal fibrous proliferation after arterial reconstruction in high cholesterol fed rabbits.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of pancreatopeptidase E (Elastase) administration on the healing of anastomosed arteries. A segment of infrarenal aorta was resected and reanastomosed in rabbits. In the control group, rabbits were fed commercial chow (ORC 4). In the cholesterol group, rabbits were fed a diet of 1% cholesterol added to ORC 4. In the Elastase group, rabbits were fed the same diet as the cholesterol group but received intraabdominal injections of Elastase. The rabbits were kept for 4 months and the abdominal aorta was retrieved for examination. All anastomosed aortas were patent. The cholesterol group developed aneurysmal dilatation in one and stenosis of the anastomosed sites due to hypergranulation in the remaining rabbits. Neither aneurysmal nor stenotic changes were detected in the other groups. We concluded that the administration of Elastase suppressed cholesterol induced atherosclerotic changes at the anastomotic sites in these animals.