Effect of atorvastatin on the expression of heme oxygenase-1 in atherosclerotic rats

Objective:To establish animal model of rats with atheroscle rosis and investigate the influence of Atorvastatin on the expression of heme oxygenase-1(HO-1) in atherosclerotic rats.Method:Thirty-six healthy male wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control group(n=10,normal diet)、model control group(n=13,vitamin D_3(VD_3)+ high-cholesterol diet) and Atorvastatin group(n=13,VD_3+ high-cholesterol diet and Atorvastatin).The rats were killed at 14 Weeks,fasting blood samples were collected and total cholesterol(TC)、triglyceride(TG)、low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C)levels were determined.The aortic tissue was obtain ed for observing pathohistologic changes with hematoxylin and eosin(HE) staining;The expressions of HO-1 and mRNA in atherosclerotic plaques in each group were detected and measured by means of immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).Result:The serum cholesterol level were similar in the model control group and Atorvastatin group(P0.05),which were higher than normal control group(P0.05);The positive ratio of HO1 in Atorvastatin group and model control group was higher than that in normal control group[(6.16±2.05)(P0.05)],and that in Atorvastatin group(24.26±3.04)was higher than model control group[(16.20±2.33)(P0.05)];The expression of HO-1mRNA in model control group(0.998±0.019)was higher than that in normal control group [(0.478±0.018)(P0.05)],compared with model control group,the expression of HO-1 mRNA in Atorvastatin group(2.572±0.015)increased significantly(P0.05).Conclusion:Atorvastatin may prevent atherosclerosis by increasing the expression of HO-1,and its detailed mechanism need to be further investigated.