Atorvastatin alleviates pulmonary fibrosis-induced by bleomycin in rats

Objective To investigate the therapeutic effects of atorvastatin on pulmonary fibrosis of rats induced by Bleomycin(BLM). Methods Fourty-two female Wistar rats were randomly divided into 7 groups:the control group(group C),the model group which was furtherly divided into group 2-week(M2),4-week(M4),6-week(M6),and atorvastatin-treatment group which was furtherly divided into group 2-week(A2),4-week(A4),6-week(A6). Group M and A were induced to pulmonary fibrosis by the method of BLM endotracheal injection,while group C was injected with saline. On 2nd day,group A were given orally atorvastatin by 10 mg/kg·d. Rats were seperately killed on 2nd,4th and 6th week. After intratracheal injection of BLM,alveolitis and pulmonary fibrosis were evaluated by pathology,hydroxyproline concentration and PaO2. Results The lung coefficient of group M2,M4,A2 and A4 was significantly higher than that of group C. The degree of pulmonary fibrosis in group A4 and A6 was improved as compared with group M4,M6. Alveolitis and pulmonary fibrosis in group A were improved compared with those in group M.Hydroxyproline concentration in group A and M were significantly higher than that in group C. while A4 was lower than M4 (P0.01). There was a decrease in PaO2 after exposure to BLM,especially in group M2 (P0.01). Improvement in PaO2 was documented in groups A,compared with M. ConclusionAtorvastatin has centtain efficacy in treatment of pulmonary fibrosis of rats. The effect was significant on 6th week after treatment,which suggest that the effect is correlated positively to the carly treatment.