title: Beneficial effect of atorvastatin on left ventricular remodeling in spontaneously hypertensive rats.
abstract: This study was designed to investigate whether atorvastatin has a beneficial effect on left ventricular (LV) remodeling in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), and then explore the underlying mechanisms involved. 12 SHRs were randomized to receive either distilled water (SHR group, n = 6) or atorvastatin (ATV group, n = 6) for 10 weeks. Age-matched Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) gavaged by distilled water were used as normal controls (WKY group, n = 6). By using these rats, we observed the effects of atorvastatin on LV hypertrophy and fibrosis, and investigated atorvastatin-induced cell apoptosis and p27 protein expression. In addition, the serum lipid concentration and blood pressure level were also measured in this study. 10 weeks later, a significant decrease in the cardiosomatic ratio, LV weight to body weight ratio and cardiomyocyte transverse diameter, as well as myocardial hydroxyproline and collagen content was observed in the atorvastatin-treated SHR. In addition, atorvastatin increased the positive rate of cell apoptosis and p27 protein expression. A decreased serum lipid concentration and a reduced systolic blood pressure level were also found in the atorvastatin-treated SHR. These findings demonstrated a beneficial effect of atorvastatin on adverse LV remodeling in SHR, and the induction of cell apoptosis and upregulation of p27 protein may serve as the underlying mechanisms of this action.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cardiology, First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, PR China.
authors.forename: Lan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Chang-Jiang
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Ge
authors.forename: Shen-Jiang
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D006332:Cardiomegaly / Q000517:prevention & control; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D050760:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D011918:Rats, Inbred SHR; D011921:Rats, Inbred WKY; D020257:Ventricular Remodeling / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: C493962:Cdkn1b protein, rat; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D008055:Lipids; D011758:Pyrroles; D050760:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27; D003094:Collagen; D000069059:Atorvastatin