title: [Atorvastatin induced increase in homologous angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE2) mRNA is associated to decreased fibrosis and decreased left ventricular hypertrophy in a rat model of diabetic cardiomyopathy].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study has investigated the effect of atorvastatin on the progression of cardiac remodelling and ACE- 2 expression in diabetic myocardium in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Diabetes was induced in Holtzman rats with an intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. The animals were divided into 3 groups: (1) normal control rats, (2) diabetic rats and (3) diabetic rats treated orally with atorvastatin (50 mg/kg/day). After eight weeks of treatment, the hearts were removed for morphometric studies, collagen content assay and genetic expressions of ACE and ACE2 mRNA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Myocardial hypertrophy index and collagen deposition were increased in diabetic rats, but not in the treated-diabetic rats, without producing changes in cholesterol levels. Myocardial ACE mRNA levels were increased while ACE2 mRNA levels were decreased in diabetic rats. Atorvastatin administration attenuated overexpression of ACE mRNA and overexpression of ACE-2 mRNA in diabetic rats.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate that atorvastatin, independently of its cholesterol-lowering capacity, lowers the ACE/ACE2 ratio to normal values and attenuates the development of adverse remodeling in the diabetic heart.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Anatomía Patológica, Hospital Nacional Edgardo Rebagliati Martins, Lima, Perú.
authors.forename: Cristian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aguilar
authors.forename: Freddy
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ventura
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Delfín
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D058065:Diabetic Cardiomyopathies / Q000235:genetics* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / Q000235:genetics*; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011758:Pyrroles; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A