Effect of atorvastatin on atherosclerotic lesion formation in apoE-deficient mice
Wang Lv-ya · Zhonghua laonian yixue zazhi · 2006
Objective To study the effect of atorvastatin on the atherosclerotic lesion formation in the apoE-deficienct (apoE-/-) mice. Methods Thirty-two male apoE-deficienct mice were randomized into three groups: atorvastatin high dose group (5.0 mg·kg-1·d-1 ) , low dose group (2. 5 mg·kg-1·d-1), control group (0 mg·kg-1·d-1). At the end of eight week treatment, all mice were killed. The serum levels of total cholesterol and triglyceride were measured by enzyme dynamics method. Light microscopy was adopted to assess the degree of atherosclerotic plaque of aortic wall and image analysis was performed with computer. The expressions of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 were studied by streptavidin-biotin complex (SABC) immunohistochemistry. Results As compared with the control group, atorvastatin reduced the levels of serum TC, TG significantly(PC 0.01), increased the levels of serum NO [(27. 3±9. 1) mmol/L in high-dose group, (19. 7±8. 7) mmol/L in low-dose group, (3. 5±2. 4) mmol/L in control group, respectively (all P0.01)] and total anti-oxidation capacities [(211. 8±43. 6)mmol/L in high-dose group, (177. 4±39. 6)mmol/L in low-dose group, (73. 7±38. 3)mmol/L in control group, respectively (all P0. 01)] significantly, but reduced the level of serum maionaldehyde (MDA) significantly [(11. 6±3. 3) mmol/L in high-dose group,(14. 4±3. 4)mmol/L in low-dose group, (45. 5±5. 3)mmol/L in control group, respectively (all P0. 01)]. The extents of atherosclerotic plaque of aorta were significantly reduced (P0. 01). Atorvastatin down-regulated the expressions of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 in aortic wall. Conclusions Atorvastatin could inhibit the occurrence and development of atherosclerotic lesions by regulating the anti-oxidation abilities and by decreasing the expressions of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 in aortic wall in aopE-/- mice.