title: Atorvastatin attenuates post-implant tissue degeneration of cardiac prosthetic valve bovine pericardial tissue in a subcutaneous animal model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of our study was to examine the effects of statin therapy (atorvastatin) on post-implant structural changes of bovine pericardial tissue in a subcutaneous animal model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty male C57BL/6 mice underwent subcutaneous dorsal implantation of bovine pericardial fragments. Animals were randomized to treatment with atorvastatin (50 mg/kg) (statin group - SG) or to vehicle (control group - CG). After 1.5 months, all fragments were explanted and submitted to histopathological assessment (semi-quantitative analysis) to elucidate extent of inflammatory infiltrate, signs of tissue injury, or presence of microcalcification. Calcium determination of the implanted pericardial tissue was also performed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) assessment. ICP-MS analysis showed that pericardial fragments in SG had significantly (p<0.01) less calcium content than CG (625+/-142 vs. 962+/-590 microg/g, respectively). Light microscopy showed marked inflammatory infiltrates and tissue injury of pericardial specimens in CG animals, whereas SG animals maintained a better preserved original pericardial structure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings indicate that atorvastatin significantly attenuates the post-implant structural degeneration of artificial valve bovine pericardial tissue in a subcutaneous animal model. Further observations are mandatory to assess the effects of statins on the implanted bioprosthetic valve tissue in the blood circulation.
authors.affiliation: Experimental Cardiac Surgery Laboratory and Unit, Civic Hospital, Brescia, Italy. roberto_lorusso@iol.it
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lorusso
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Corradi
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Maestri
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bosio
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Curulli
authors.forename: Cesare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Beghi
authors.forename: Piersilvio
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gerometta
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: Sandro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gelsomino
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moreo
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Cicco
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rosano
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Volterrani
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D001705:Bioprosthesis; D002417:Cattle; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods; D006351:Heart Valves / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000637:transplantation*; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D023421:Models, Animal; D010496:Pericardium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000637:transplantation*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011897:Random Allocation; D040521:Subcutaneous Tissue / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*
chemical_list: D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D011758:Pyrroles; D000069059:Atorvastatin