title: Effects of rosuvastatin combined with fasudil therapy on rabbits with dyslipidemia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Present study was conducted to investigate the effects of rosuvastatin combined with fasudil on rabbits with dyslipidemia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dyslipidemia model of rabbits were produced by prescribing atherogenic diet for 2 weeks. Thereafter, 40 rabbits with dyslipidemia were randomly and evenly divided into four groups as follow: untreated group (orally prescribed 3 ml of normal saline), rosuvastatin group (orally prescribed 3 mg/kg body weight daily, dissolved in 3 ml of normal saline), fasudil group (intravenously prescribed 0.5 mg/kg body weight daily, dissolved in 3 ml of normal saline), and combined group (the same doses of rosuvastatin and fasudil as aforementioned). At baseline, 2 weeks of dyslipidemia establishment and 2 weeks of medical therapy, fasting venous blood was drawn for laboratory examination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 2 weeks' atherogenic diet treatment, lipid disorders and impaired fasting glucose were observed. Systemic inflammation and oxidation were also promoted as revealed by increased serum levels of high sensitive C-reactive protein (Hs-CRP) and malondialdehyde (MDA). Notably, endothelial function has been impaired significantly as reflected by decreased nitric oxide (NO) production and increased serum asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) level. RhoA associated kinase (ROCK) activity was also profoundly enhanced (P < 0.05). Inter-group comparisons showed that when compared to untreated group, modest improvements of endothelial function, inflammation and oxidation were observed in rosuvastatin and fasudil groups (P > 0.05). These benefits were improved more prominently in combined group (P < 0.05). Intra-group comparisons also showed that when compared to 2 weeks of dyslipidemia, slight improvement of endothelial function, inflammation and oxidation in rosuvastatin and fasudil groups were observed (P > 0.05). The improvements were more prominent in the combined groups (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rosuvastatin combined with fasudil conferred synergistic effects on endothelium-protection and inflammation- and oxidation-amelioration in the setting of early stage of dyslipidemia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Huizhou Municipal Central Hospital, 41st Eling North RD, Huicheng District, Huizhou, 516000, China. lzm168168@yeah.net.
authors.forename: Zhiming
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, The Easten Hospital of the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, 58 Zhongshan Road 2, Guangzhou, 510080, China. wowocncn@yeah.net.
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lian
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, The Easten Hospital of the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, 58 Zhongshan Road 2, Guangzhou, 510080, China. liangqingdoctor@126.com.
authors.forename: Qin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Shenzhen Sun Yat-sen Cardiovascular Hospital, Shenzhen, 518000, China. zengfanfang@sina.com.
authors.forename: Fanfang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, The Easten Hospital of the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, 58 Zhongshan Road 2, Guangzhou, 510080, China. zhengyunsen@126.com.
authors.forename: Dongdan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zheng
mesh_terms: D019307:1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D011817:Rabbits; D000068718:Rosuvastatin Calcium / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D054460:rho-Associated Kinases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D009569:Nitric Oxide; D000068718:Rosuvastatin Calcium; D019307:1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine; D054460:rho-Associated Kinases; C049347:fasudil