The effect of pravastatin and atorvastatin on extracellular matrix remodeling and matrix metalloproteinase after myocardial infarction in rats

Objective To investigate the statins' effect on myocardial extracellular matrix remodeling after myocardial infarction (MI) in rats,and pravastatin and atorvastatin influenced matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) expression and ventricular remodeling.Methods Fifty rats were randomized into 4 groups:MI group,MI + pravastatin group,MI + atorvastatin group and sham-operation group.The models of MI were induced by ligated with anterior descending coronary artery;the sham-operation group was made by the same procedure without ligation.The rats were killed 8 weeks after operation to examine hemodynamic parameters,body weight (BW),left and right ventricular weight (LVW,RVW).Collagen volume fraction (CVF)was measured by using Van Gieson(VG) in noninfarcted region; the expressions of MMP-2 were detected with ELISA.Results The RVW/BW,LVW/BW,left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) and CVF increased significantly,and the level of MMP-2 were enhanced in MI group (P0.05).Compared with the MI group,RVW/BW,LVW/BW,LVEDP and CVF decreased significantly and the level of MMP-2 were weakened in the MI+statins group (P0.05).But there was no significant difference between the statins treated groups (P0.05).Conclusion Statins can prevent myocardial extracellular matrix remodeling,which is associated with the MMP-2 expressions and activities.There were no significant differences in preventing myocardial extraceltular matrix remodeling between pravastatin and atorvastatin groups.