The Effects of Simvastatin on Myocardial Remodeling in Rats Induced by Pressure Overload

Objective The aim of the study is to discuss the influence of simvastatin on myocardial remodeling in rats with pressure-overload.Methods Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly allocated into three groups: the sham-operated groups,model groups and statin-treated groups.Cardiac hypertrophy(CH) was induced by suprarenal abdominal aorta constriction.Simvastatin was orally administered at a dose of 40 mg·kg-1·d-1.Animals in the sham and model groups were given with the same volume of water.CH was evaluated by morphological examination.Cardiac fibrosis was confirmed by type Ⅲ collagen stained section.Results Rats in the model group had developed left ventricular hypertrophy and myocardial fibrosis.The total type Ⅲ collagen were obvious increased compared with that in the sham group(P0.05).HW/BW and LVW/BW were significantly reduced in the simvastatin group(P0.05),the total type Ⅲ collagen was decreased compared with that in the model group.Conclusion Simvastatin induces regression of ventricular hypertrophy in rats with pressure overload.Simvastatin can exert both inhibiting and ameliorative effects on cardiac myocytes and myocardial interstitial remodeling.