Effect of resveratrol on expression of matrix metalloproteinase in rabbits with athrosclerosis

Objective To study the effect of resveratrol on expression of matrix metalloproteinase （MMP） in rabbits with experimental atherosclerosis. Methods Fifty New Zealand healthy rabbits were randomly divided into normal control group（n=10）, atherosclerosis model group（n=20）, and resveratrol group（n=20）.Two months after an atherosclerosis model was established using liquid nitrogen, cold injury was induced to provoke rupture of atherosclerosis plaque. Levels of MMP-1 and 9 were measured 2 months after model establishment and 48 hours after provocation test, respectively. Results The levels of MMP-1 and 9 were 50.74±5.49ng/ml and 337.69±8.98ng/ml in model group and 41.33±9.58ng/ml and 309.83±10.59ng/ml in resveratrol group, respectively, 2 months after model establishment（P＜0.01）, while they were 100.35±6.58ng/ml and 869.56±12.37ng/ml in model group and 61.68±11.69ng/ml and 411.24±15.74ng/ml in resveratrol group, respectively, 48 hours after provocation test（P＜0.01）. Conclusion Resveratrol can prevent and delay the occurrence of atherosclerosis by reducing the level of MMP-1 and MMP-9.