[Effects of simvastatin on vasa vasorum and aortic endothelial function in rats].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of hyperlipidemia on vasa vasorum and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and study the role of vasa vasorum in arteriosclerosis.


METHODS
Thirty SD rats were randomized into normal control, hyperlipidemic and simvastatin treatment groups (n=10). In simvastatin group, hyperlipidemia was induced by a 4-week administration of atherogenic diet followed by a 16-week treatment with simvastatin at the daily dose of 10 mg/kg, and the rats in hyperlipidemic rats received no treatment. The changes in the aorta and vasa vasorum were examined, and serum lipid concentration and VEGF and NO levels were measured.


RESULTS
Compared with the control group, the hyperlipidemic rats showed significantly thickened intima and media aorta and increased vasa vasorum density with lowered NO level, but VEGF underwent no significant changes. Simvastatin treatment significantly reduced the thickness of the intima and media aorta and increased vasa vasorum density in comparison with those in hyperlipidemic group. Simvastatin treatment also significantly increased VEGF and NO levels and a positive correlation was noted between their levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Hyperlipidemia can impair the vasa vasorum and aortic endothelial function. Simvastatin increases VEGF and NO and promotes neogenesis of the vasa vasorum for the benefit of the aortic function.
Department of Cardiology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical College, Guangzhou 510120, China. dr.wu@139.com
Jun
J
Wu
Yun
Y
Xiao
Wei
W
Wang
Dong-feng
DF
Lu
Zhao-chu
ZC
He
Ming-sheng
MS
Chen
D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000166:cytology*; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000502:physiology*; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014651:Vasa Vasorum / Q000166:cytology*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism
D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C467498:vascular endothelial growth factor A, rat; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D019821:Simvastatin