A dietary approach to increase in-stent stenosis and face validity of a rat model for arterial angioplasty and stenting

Arterial stenting, in combination with the atherogenic diet, led to exacerbated endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, platelet activation, and vascular remodeling compared with stented rats on normal chow. By reproducing key features of clinical restenosis that are lacking in other rat models, this modified rat model may serve as a valuable screening tool to rapidly evaluate new coatings and devices before moving candidates into expensive, more time-consuming rabbit or porcine models.