Simvastatin ameliorates rat ventricular remodeling after myocardial infarction:the role of phosphorylating extracellular signal-regulated kinase1/2

Aim To study the effect of simvastatin on ventricular remodeling in rats after myocardial infarction,and the association between this effect and phosphorylating extracellular signal-regulated kinase1/2(p-ERK1/2).Methods Myocardial infarction(MI)rat models were successfully induced by ligation of anterior descending coronary artery.The treated rats were randomly divided into 4 groups(n=8~10):MI only group,MI plus 20 mg Sim group(20 mg·kg-1·d-1),MI plus 40 mg Sim group(40 mg·kg-1·d-1),and sham-operated group.After 4 weeks,the rats were checked by echocardiography including LVEDd,LVPWd,LVEF,FS,SV and CO.Myocardial p-ERK1/2 was also examined by immunohistochemistry and Western blot.Results Compared with sham-operated group,LVEDd,LVPWd in other groups were significantly increased(P0.01),and LVEF,FS,SV and CO were significantly reduced(P0.01).However,simvastatin significantly decreased LVEDd,LVPWd(P0.01),and increased LVEF,FS,SV and CO(P0.01)compared with MI only group.MI significantly increased(P0.01)myocardial p-ERK1/2 expression,while simvastatin dose dependently inhibited myocardial p-ERK1/2 expression.Conclusion Simvastatin ameliorated left ventricular remodeling and heart function after MI in rats,which was associated with the effect of decreasing myocardial p-ERK1/2 expression.