Inhibitory effect of DSW on balloon angioplasty-induced neointimal hyperplasia.

<p>Tissue sections from rat carotid arteries were further stained with hematoxylin-eosin to observe the thickness of neointimal layer of arterial wall (A–F). The expression levels of MMP-2 and PCNA proteins were detected with immunohistopathological analysis (H and I). The images were acquired by microscopy at 200-fold magnification. The manifestation of vessel restenosis was presented as the ratio of neointima- to-media area (N/M ratio). L, lumen; N, neointima layer; M, media layer. Red arrow is protein experssion.*<i>P</i><0.05, and **<i>P</i>< compared with BA + water group, respectively.</p

Effect of blood biochemical parameters of SD rats after 4-week treatment with sham + water, BA + water, BA + MgCl₂, and DSW.

<p>Concentration unit: U/L. BA, balloon angioplasty; RDA, recommended dietary allowances; ALT, alanine aminotransferase; AST, aspartate aminotransferase; ALP, alkaline phosphatase; GGT, γ-glutamyltransferase. Mg²⁺: serum Mg²⁺ concentration. Values are mean ± SEM, n = 6.</p><p>*<i>p</i><0.05 compared to sham + water.</p

Molecular regulation by DSW of cell growth and migration of VSMCs.

<p>Inhibitory mechanisms of DSW on cell growth- and migration-associated proteins were analyzed by using the methods of Western blot (WB) and gelatin zymography. Beta-actin was used as internal control in Western blot. The results are shown as % of the control (15% FBS). The MMP-2 activity was normalized to the values of the 15% FBS group. *<i>P</i><0.05, and **<i>P</i><0.01 compared with the 15% FBS-treated group, respectively.</p

DSW-induced regulation of VSMC viability.

<p>Cell viability was analyzed with the MTT proliferation assay. One-fold (1x) DSW was defined as water-diluted DSW containing a level of magnesium equal to that of the magnesium chloride used in the present experiment. The results are shown as % of the control. *<i>P</i><0.05, and **<i>P</i><0.01 compared with the 15% FBS-treated group, respectively.</p

Effects of DSW on VSMC migration. Cell migration was analyzed with transwell assays.

<p>The images were taken at 400-fold magnification. The 1x DSW was defined as water-diluted DSW containing the same level of magnesium as the magnesium chloride used in the present experiment. The results are shown as % of the control (15% FBS).*<i>P</i><0.05, and **<i>P</i><0.01 compared with the 15% FBS-treated group, respectively. #<i>P</i><0.05 compared with the MgCl₂-treated group.</p

Differences in magnesium content in the balloon-injured carotid artery.

<p>*<i>P</i><0.05 compared with BA + water group, respectively.</p