title: Antinociception induced by atorvastatin in different pain models.
abstract: Atorvastatin is a statin that inhibits the 3-hydroxy-methyl-glutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase. Several landmark clinical trials have demonstrated the beneficial effects of statin therapy for primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. It is assumed that the beneficial effects of statin therapy are entirely due to cholesterol reduction. Statins have an additional activity (pleiotropic effect) that has been associated to their anti-inflammatory effects. The aim of the present study was to assess the antinociceptive activity of atorvastatin in five animal pain models. The daily administration of 3-100mg/kg of atorvastatin by oral gavage induced a significant dose-dependent antinociception in the writhing, tail-flick, orofacial formalin and formalin hind paw tests. However, this antinociceptive activity of atorvastatin was detectable only at high concentrations in the hot plate assay. The data obtained in the present study demonstrates the effect of atorvastatin to reduce nociception and inflammation in different animal pain models.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, School of Medicine, Pharmacology Program, ICBM, Universidad de Chile, Clasificador 70.000, Santiago 7, Chile.
authors.forename: G G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: H F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Miranda
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Noriega
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sierralta
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Olavarría
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Zepeda
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Prieto
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000379:methods*; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D011758:Pyrroles; D000069059:Atorvastatin