Effects of Simvastatin on Myocardial Fibrosis and Expression of TGF-β1、CTGF in Rats with Chronic Heart Failure

Objective To investigate the role of connective tissue growth factor(CTGF)in development of myocardial fibrosis(MF) in rats with chronic heart failure,and the mechanism of simvastatin to attentuate myocardial remodeling and myocardial fibrosis in rats with chronic heart failure.Methods 30 male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to sham-operated group(n=8),model group(n=11)and simvastatin group(n=11).The animal model was established by suprarenal aortic constriction.After 8 weeks common fed,rats in simvastatin group were given a daily dose of 2(mg/(kg·d)) of simvastatin for 8 weeks by gastric lavage and the other two groups were fed with normal saline.Hemodynamic parameters of 3 groups rats were detected,expressions of TGF-β_1 、CTGF in myocardium were evaluated by qualitative and semiquantitative immunohistochemical staining.MASSON staining was used in the study of total Collagen type in left ventricular interstitial tissue.Collagen volume fraction(CVF),Perivascular collagen area(PVCA) were measured by image analysis.Results Compared with the sham-group,CVF、PVCA,and the expression of TGF-β_1 、Connective tissue growth factor in left ventricle increased in model group(P0.01).Compared with the model group rats,these indexes decreased in simvastatin group obviously.(P0.01).Conclusion Simvastatin obviously attentuates myocardial remodeling and myocardial fibrosis of rats with chronic heart failure,improves cardiac function,which is dependent on its effect on expressions of TGF-β_1 and Connective tissue growth factor.