The Anti-Inflammation Effect of Atorvastatin on Myocardial Hypertrophy Caused by Pressure Overload

Background A multitude of studies reported statins prevent the myocardial hypertrophy induced by pressure overload,but the mechanism is unclear.Objective To study the protective effect of atorvastatin on the myocardial hypertrophy caused by pressure overload and it's anti-inflammation effect.Methods Forty Wistar rats were randomized to untreated group(n=10),atorvastatin group(2 mg/kg·d,by gavage,n=10),sham op- eration group(n=10)and control group(n=10).Ventricular hypertrophy model was achieved by surgical con- stricting the abdominal aorta.All rats were sacrificed 8 weeks after the operation and the heart weight to body ratio,left ventricular weight to body ratio,and the size of cardiomyocyte were determined.The expressions of interleukin 18(IL-18)and cardiotrophin 1(CT-1)in the cadiocyte were assessed by reverse transcription polymer- ase chain reaction(RT-PCR).Results Compared with control group,SBP in myocardial hypertrophy group was significantly increased(174±9 vs control 112±15 mmHg,P0.01),whereas atorvastatin group did not de- creased SBP(169±8 nmHg). However,atorvastatin decreased the heart weight to body ratio[atorvastatin: (3.2±0.2)×10~(-3)vs untreated group:(4.2±0.3)×10~(-3),P0.05],the left ventricular weight to body [atorv- astatin:(2.2±0.1)×10~(-3)vs untreated group:(2.8±0.3)×10~(-3),P0.05],and concomitantly decreased the expressions of CT-1(atorvastatin:0.244±0.042 vs untreated group:0.371±0.054,P0.05)and IL-18(ator- vastatin:0.231±0.071 vs untreated group:0.462±0.038,P0.05),and the diameters of cadiocytes(atorvas- tatin:9.74±0.38μm vs untreated group..10.94±0.65μm,P0.05).Conclusion Atorvastatin can prevent the myocardial hypertrophy caused by pressure overload which was associated with its anti-inflammation effect.