title: Effects of 4-week administration of simvastatin in different doses on heart rate and blood pressure after metoprolol injection in normocholesterolaemic and normotensive rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Statins and β1-adrenergic antagonists are well established in cardiovascular events therapy and prevention. The previous study showed that statins might impact on β-adrenergic signalling and blood pressure in a dose-dependent manner. The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of 4-week administration of simvastatin given at different doses on the heart rate and blood pressure after injection of metoprolol in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  The experiments were performed in normocholesterolaemic and normotensive Wistar rats. Rats received simvastatin in doses of 1, 10 and 20 mg/kg body weight (bw) for 4 weeks. The control group received 0.2% methylcellulose. For the further estimation of the heart rate and blood pressure, metoprolol at 5 mg/kg bw or 0.9% NaCl was injected intraperitoneally.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Simvastatin at doses of 1, 10 and 20 mg/kg bw did not influence the heart rate or blood pressure as compared to the control group. Metoprolol injection statistically significantly decreased the heart rate (439.29±14.03 min(-1) vs. 374.41±13.32 min(-1); p<0.05). In rats receiving simvastatin during the 4-week period after metoprolol injection, heart rate and blood pressure (mean, systolic, diastolic) were similar as compared to the group receiving metoprolol alone.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Simvastatin administration during a 4-week period in different doses did not influence the heart rate or blood pressure after metoprolol injection in normocholesterolaemic and normotensive rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biopharmacy, Medical University of Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Owczarek
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jasińska
authors.forename: Irena
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Wejman
authors.forename: Urszula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kurczewska
authors.forename: Daria
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Orszulak-Michalak