Effects of atorvastatin on vascular intimal hyperplasia: an experimental rodent model.
BACKGROUND
Vascular intimal hyperplasia is associated with increased mortality and morbidity. The authors investigated the effects of atorvastatin on vascular intimal hyperplasia.


METHODS
Rats were divided into 4 groups. Groups 1, 2, and 3 had experimental aortic injury and received intraperitoneal injection of atorvastatin, solvent, or 0.9% NaCl, respectively. Group 4 was a nonintervention (laparotomy only) control group. Animals were sacrificed after 3 weeks. Blood samples and injured aortic segment were analyzed.


RESULTS
Atorvastatin administration significantly lowered total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (P = .012 and P = .001, respectively), intima-media ratio (P = .002), and intimal smooth muscle cell accumulation (P < .05) in group 1. Luminal narrowing in animals in group 1 was significantly lower than that in animals in groups 2 and 3, but was higher than in animals in group 4 (P = .009).


CONCLUSIONS
Atorvastatin suppresses intimal hyerplasia and aids in intimal regeneration by lowering blood lipids and intimal smooth muscle cell accumulation.
Aydin
Unal
U
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Bezm-I Alem Vakif Gureba Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Ugurlucan
Murat
M
Gungor
Funda
F
Ziyade
Sedat
S
Inan
Bekir
B
Banach
Maciej
M
Kalko
Yusuf
Y
Yasar
Tahsin
T
D000818:Animals; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D005352:Fibromuscular Dysplasia / Q000473:pathology*; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D011758:Pyrroles; D002784:Cholesterol; D000069059:Atorvastatin