Effect of simvastatin and fosinopril on myocardial connective tissue growth factor in rats with chronic heart failure

Objective To study the effect of simvastatin or fosinopril alone and their combination on myocardial connective tissue growth factor(CTGF) in rats with CHF.Methods A CHF model of rat was established by constricting the abdominal aorta superior to renal artery.Fifty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into sham operation group,model group,simvastatin group, fosinopril group,and combination group,10 in each group.Their LVMI,left ventricle dilation pressure(LEVDP),maximium LVEDP and its decreasing rate(±dp/dt_(max)) were observed.Expression of CTGF protein in left ventricle of rats was detected by SP immunohistochemistry.Expression levels of CTGF protein and mRNA in left ventricle of rats were measured by Western blot and RT-PCR,respectively.Results The LVMI and LVEDP and the expression levels of CTGF protein and mRNA were significantly higher while the±dp/dt_(max) was significantly lower in model group than in sham operation.The±dp/dt_(max) was significantly higher while the LVMI and LVEDP and the expression levels of CTGF protein and mRNA were significantly lower in simvastatin group,fosinopril group and their combination group than in model group(P0.01).Conclusion Simvastatin or fosinopril alone and their combination can improve the cardiac function and myocardial hypertrophy in rats with CHF.However,the inhibitory effect of combined simvastatin and fosinopril on myocardial fibrosis is better than that of simvastatin or fosinopril alone.