title: [Effect of simvastatin on atherosclerosis and central aortic pressure in ApoE gene knockout mice].
abstract: To investigate the effects of simvastatin on atherosclerosis and central aortic pressure in ApoE-knockout (ApoE-/-) mice.
  
  
  
  Ten 5-week-old male ApoE-/- mice and 5 C57 mice were fed with high-lipid diet for 3 weeks, and then C57 mice (WT group) and 5 ApoE-/- mice (ApoE-/- group) were given 1% carboxymethyl cellulose solution (8 ml·kg-1·d-1), and another 5 ApoE-/- mice (ApoE-/-/S group) were given simvastatin solution (50 mg·kg-1·d-1) by gavege for 3 weeks. The areas of atherosclerotic lesion in aortic root, central aortic pressure and serum lipid levels were examined.
  
  
  
  No atherosclerotic plaques were observed in WT group. Compared with ApoE-/- group, simvastatin significantly decreased atherosclerotic lesion area in aortic root (89 818.05±16 980.93 μm2 vs 34 937.01±13 280.65 μm2, P<0.05). The systolic pressure (SP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), pulse pressure (PP) and diastolic pressure (DP) of central aortic pressure were significantly increased in ApoE-/- group compared with those in WT group (P<0.05). Compared to ApoE-/- group, the SP, MAP and PP of central aortic pressure were significantly reduced in ApoE-/-/S group (P<0.05). SP and MAP of central aortic pressure were positively correlated with atherosclerotic lesion area (SP: r=0.7152, P=0.0461; PP: r=0.7594， P=0.0288). Compared with WT group, serum triglyceride, total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein levels were markedly increased in ApoE-/- group (P<0.05). Serum high-density lipoprotein level was decreased in ApoE-/- group compared with WT group. No differences in serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein and high-density lipoprotein levels were found between ApoE-/- group and ApoE-/-/S group.
  
  
  
  Simvastatin can attenuate atherosclerosis of aorta in ApoE-/- mice, which is associated with the reduced central aortic systolic pressure but not with the serum lipids levels.
authors.affiliation: Ningbo Medical Treatment Center Lihuili Hospital， Ningbo 315000， China.
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Ningbo Medical Treatment Center Lihuili Hospital， Ningbo 315000， China.
authors.forename: Yu-hong
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: Ningbo Medical Treatment Center Lihuili Hospital， Ningbo 315000， China.
authors.forename: Tiao-hong
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Ningbo Medical Treatment Center Lihuili Hospital， Ningbo 315000， China.
authors.forename: Lin-hui
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Ningbo Medical Treatment Center Lihuili Hospital， Ningbo 315000， China.
authors.forename: Bao-qi
authors.initials: BQ
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics*; D062186:Arterial Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol; D019821:Simvastatin