The effect of atorvastatin on plasma lysophosphatidic acid in atherosclerotic rat models

Objective To study the level of plasma lysophosphatidic acid(LPA)in rats with atherosclerosis and the effects of atorvastatin on atherosclerosis(AS).Methods Thirty-three Wistar rats were assigned into 3 groups randomly:normal control group,AS model group and atorvastatin treatment group(11 rats in each group). The rats in AS model group and treatment group were injected with a single dose of vitamin D_3(600 000U/kg)and fed with high fat diet.Basic food was given in normal control group.The rats in treatment group were treated with atorvastatin by gastric tube 4 weeks later.All of the rats were sacrificed at the end of the 8th week,the aortic artery was observed by light microscopy and the levels of the serum lipids,plasma LPA and LPA alike phospholipids(AP) were detected. Results Typical atherosclerotic plaques were seen in the aorta of the model group.The serum levels of total cholesterol、triglyceride、(low density) lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C)、very low density lipoprotein cholesterd(VLDL-C) were significantly higher in the AS model group than that of control group(P 0.05),while the level of HDL-C was significantly decreased(P 0.05).Plasma LPA level in AS model group were notable higher than that of normal control group and atorvastatin treatment group[(4.7 ± 0.8),(2.3±0.6)and(3.5 ± 0.6)μmol/L respectively,P 0.05].The levels of the serum lipids in treatment group were improved((P 0.05)),the atheroselotic ehange of aorta in treatment group was much mild than that of the AS model group.The level of plasma AP showed no significantly different among these three groups.Conclusion The plasma LPA level are correlated with AS.Atorvastatin can interfere and delay the development of AS in rats by adjusting the levels of serum lipids and decreasing plasma LPA.