Abstract: Objective To study the effect of compound Danshen dripping pills and atorvastatin on restenosis after abdominal
aorta angioplasty in rabbits. Methods Rabbit models of abdominal aorta restenosis after angioplasty were established and
treated with saline (group A), compound Danshen dripping pills (group B), atorvastatin (group C), or compound Danshen
dripping pills plus atorvastatin (group D). HE staining was used to determine the thickness of arterial intimal hyperplasia and
assess the morphological changes of the narrowed artery. Immunohistochemistry was employed to detect the expression of
nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1). Results Compared with group A, the 3 treatment
groups showed significant increased vascular cavity area and reduced intimal area and percentage of intimal hyperplasia (P<
0.05). The vascular cavity area, intimal area and percentage of intimal hyperplasia levels differed significantly between group
D and groups B and C (P<0.05). Immunohistochemistry showed a significant reduction of the expression rate of NF-κB and
MCP-1 in the 3 treatment groups compared with group A (P<0.05), and the reduction was especially obvious in group D (P<
0.05). Conclusion Compound danshen dripping pills combined with atorvastatin produces better effects than the drugs used
alone in inhibiting vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation in rabbits after abdominal aorta angioplasty possibly due to a
decreased expression of MCP-1 as a result of NF-κB inhibition.