Effect of simvastatin on left ventricular diastolic function in spontaneously hypertensive rats

ObjectiveTo investigate effects of simvastatin on left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) MethodsSixteen male SHRs of 16-week-old were divided into two groups at random: SHR-C group (2ml distilled water,n=8) and SHR-S group [simvastatin,2 mg/(kg·d),n=8],SHR-C group was administered for 12 weeks with intragastric simvastatin,SHR -C group and 8 sex-age matched Wistar Kyoto rats(WKY)were given the distilled water only.Systolic blood pressure(SBP) and heart rate were measured by tail-cuff method; collagen concentration were determined by modified Bergman method.Left ventricular diastolic function was measured by cardiac catheterization technique.ResultsAfter 12 weeks treatment,compared with SHR-C group,collagen concentration ? left ventricular end-diastolic pressure were reduced significantly and -dp/dt\-\{max\} reduced significantly (P0.05 or P0.01),but +dp/dt\-\{max\} ?SBP and heart rate were no significant alteration for SHR-S group (P0.05).ConclusionSimvastatin can improve left ventricular diastolic function and reduce myocardial fibrosis in spontaneously hypertensive rats