Effect of simvastatin on left ventricular remodeling and heart function in rats with myocardial infarction

Aim To study the effect of simvastatin(Sim) on left ventricular remodeling and heart function in rats with myocardial infarction(MI).Methods Myocardial infarction models were successfully induced by ligation of anterior descending coronary artery.24 h later the survivals were randomly divided into 3 groups.① MI group;② 20 mg Sim group(20 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1));③ 40 mg Sim group(40 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)).The rats with sham ligation formed sham group.After 8 weeks,hemodynamic parameters,blood serum lipids,the ratio of RV and LV weight to body weight(RVWI,LVWI) were examined.The pathomorphological change and the collagen volume fraction(CVF) were analyzed by PSR dyeing.Results There were no significant differences in values of serum lipids among 4 groups.Compared with sham group,the left ventricular end-diastolic pressure(LVEDP) was increased and left ventricular systolic pressure(LVSP) was depressed significantly in MI group; the RVWI and LVWI and the CVF in border infarcted zone and Ⅰ/Ⅲ ratio were increased in MI group too.Compared with MI group,Sim partially normalized LVSP and LVEDP;abated ventricular weight index;reduced CVF in non-infarction zone in both Sim groups.Conculusion Simvastatin improves LV remodeling and heart function in rats with MI,which is associated with the effect of limiting myocardial hypertrophy and interstitial fibrosis.