C-type natriuretic peptide inhibits intimal thickening of rabbit carotid artery after balloon catheter injury.

C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) stimulated cGMP production in rabbit cultured vascular smooth muscle cells, and thymidine uptake was inhibited by CNP. We tested whether CNP inhibits the development of intimal lesions induced by balloon catheter injury in rabbit common carotid artery. CNP (1 microgram/kg/min) infusion through the left jugular vein by DIB balloon catheter pump was started at 30 min before injury and continued until sacrifice. The median of the mean ratio of intima to media in each rabbit after 14 days was 29.5% [14.5-57.8] for control group and 12.0% [2.5-29.8] for CNP group (p < 0.01). Maximum ratio was also significantly low in CNP group. These results suggest that CNP may act as local regulator which suppresses intimal thickening.