Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

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

Weiliang Zhu , Jianyue Ying

Department of Pharmacy, The Second Affiliated Hospital Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China;

For correspondence:- Weiliang Zhu Email: 0015317@zju.edu.cn Tel:+8613588842614

Accepted: 13 June 2022 Published: 31 July 2022

Citation: Zhu W, Ying J. Influence of cilostazol on thromboangiitis obliterans in rats and the mechanism involved. Trop J Pharm Res 2022; 21(7):1487-1492 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v21i7.19

© 2022 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: To study the effect of Cilostazol on rat thromboangiitis obliterans (TAO), and the mechanism of action involved.

Methods: Rats (N = 45) were injected with sodium laurate to establish the model of TAO, and then divided into Sham group (n = 15), TAO group (n = 15) and TAO + cilostazol group (n = 15). After administration of cilostazol, TAO lesions in the rats were graded, and the femoral arteries were stained by hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) to determine the degree of vascular lesions. The status of vascular endothelial cells was determined using transmission electron microscopy. Furthermore, the expression and transcription levels of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) proteins were evaluated by Western blotting and real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) respectively.

Results: In contrast to Sham group, TAO group exhibited symptoms such as changes in skin temperature and color, and limb swelling and thanatosis, while in the TAO + cilostazol group, the damage was reversed, vascular and vascular endothelial cell lesions were significantly ameliorated (p < 0.05), and the transcription and translation levels of HIF-1α and VEGF significantly suppressed (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Cilostazol alleviates sodium laurate-induced TAO lesions in rats via HIF-1α/VEGF pathway. This study may provide new insights for the treatment of TAO.

Keywords: Cilostazol, Hypoxia-inducible factor/vascular endothelial growth factor pathway, Thromboangiitis obliterans, Limb swelling, Thanatosis