title: Comparison of the effects of escitalopram and atorvastatin on diet-induced atherosclerosis in rats.
abstract: Atherosclerosis is one of the most common disorders among the elderly. Depression may be associated with the development of atherosclerosis. Thus, the aim of this study is to evaluate and compare the effects of escitalopram (a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) with atorvastatin (a well known antihyperlipidemic drug) on high fat diet induced atherosclerosis in rats. The results of this study showed that the administration of either escitalopram or atorvastatin for 6 weeks was associated with a significant decrease in serum levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoproteins, very low density lipoproteins, and serum malondialdehyde, and a significant increase in high density lipoproteins when compared with the atherosclerosis model group. Histopathological examination of the aortas from the test rats revealed significant regression of atherosclerotic changes, together with a significant decrease in vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) expression in the media of both the escitalopram group and the atorvastatin group when compared with the atherosclerosis model group. This study has shown that escitalopram reduced atherosclerotic changes, thus its use as an antidepressant in elderly patients should be considered.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
authors.forename: Amina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Unis
authors.forename: Amany
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abdelbary
authors.forename: Manal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hamza
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D015283:Citalopram / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D059305:Diet, High-Fat; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000069059:Atorvastatin; D015283:Citalopram; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D008055:Lipids; D011758:Pyrroles; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1