title: Effects of statins in an indomethacin-induced gastric injury model in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Statins have additional pleiotropic effects beyond their lipid-lowering effects. In this study, the effects of statins were evaluated in an indomethacin-induced gastric injury model in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Animals were divided into eight groups. Distilled water (control group), omeprazole (30 mg/kg), atorvastatin (20 and 40 mg/kg), simvastatin (20 and 40 mg/kg), and rosuvastatin (20 and 40 mg/kg) were given orally (gavage). Thirty minutes later, indomethacin (25 mg/kg) was administered orally to all groups. Six hours later, the animals were sacrificed by decapitation. The mean ulcer indexes for each group were calculated, and the stomachs were evaluated histopathologically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ulcer indexes were as follows: control 1.72 ± 0.16, omeprazole 0 ± 0.00, and atorvastatin, simvastatin and rosuvastatin (at 20 and 40 mg/kg doses, respectively) 4.28 ± 0.39, 4.99 ± 0.96, 1.72 ± 0.73, 1.90 ± 0.48, 1.85 ± 0.26, and 1.67 ± 0.18. Atorvastatin significantly increased the indomethacin-induced ulcer index at both doses and the erosion score at 40 mg/kg dose. Although the 20 mg/kg dose of simvastatin inhibited mononuclear leukocyte infiltration, the 40 mg/kg dose induced hyperemia. Rosuvastatin did not decrease mononuclear leukocyte or neutrophil infiltrations at 20 mg/kg dose, and only neutrophil infiltration at the 40 mg/kg dose.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients with gastric discomfort, statins must be used carefully. If statin therapy is needed, we recommend to avoid using atorvastatin and to use the other statins only in the minimum effective dose.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology Zonguldak Karaelmas University School of Medicine, Zonguldak, Turkey. gunnurozbakis@ynet.com
authors.forename: Günnur
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Özbakiş-Dengız
authors.forename: Aşkın
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hekımoğlu
authors.forename: Nilüfer
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kandemır
authors.forename: Zehra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kurcer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D007213:Indomethacin