Atorvastatin efficiency after traumatic brain injury in rats.
BACKGROUND
The neuroprotective effects of statins possibly depend on their pleiotropic effect such as antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, we have evaluated the efficiency of atorvastatin on brain edema, lipid peroxidation, and ultrastructural changes in TBI animal model.


METHODS
Modified Feeney method has been used for the trauma model in rats. Only craniectomy for group A and trauma after craniectomy for group B was the procedure for animals. For the trauma, rods weighing 24 g were dropped on a foot plate just over the dura. Atorvastatin (1 mg/kg, IP) was administered to the animals in group C after craniectomy and trauma; but on the other hand, animals in group D received only 0.5 mL PEG as the vehicle. Brains were harvested 24 hours after the trauma for the assays of wet-dry weight, lipid peroxidation level, and ultrastructural investigations. Lipid peroxidation levels, TEM, and UNGS were the investigated parameters. The statistical comparisons between the groups were investigated by 1-way ANOVA and post hoc analysis by Duncan and Dunnett T3 test within the groups at the significance level P = .05.


RESULTS
Trauma increased water contents of the brain tissues and lipid peroxidation levels in groups B and D. When compared with the results of group B (brain edema, 84.694% +/- 1.510%; lipid peroxidation, 74.932 +/- 2.491 nmol/g tissue), atorvastatin (1 mg/kg) significantly decreased brain edema (77.362% +/- 1.448%), lipid peroxidation level (58.335 +/- 3.980 nmol/g tissue), and UNGS scores in group C (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
In this descriptive study, the remarkable improvements of atorvastatin on brain edema, lipid peroxidation, and ultrastructural investigations encouraged us for a further dose optimization study.
Turkoglu
Omer Faruk
OF
Department of Neurological Surgery, Ankara Ataturk Research and Education Hospital, Bilkent, 06800 Ankara, Turkey. ofturkoglu@yahoo.com
Eroglu
Hakan
H
Okutan
Ozerk
O
Gurcan
Oktay
O
Bodur
Ebru
E
Sargon
Mustafa F
MF
Oner
Levent
L
Beskonakl i
Etem
E
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000187:drug effects; D003399:Craniotomy; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000187:drug effects; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009929:Organ Size; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D011758:Pyrroles; D000069059:Atorvastatin