Effect of simvastatin on inflammatory factor in acute paraquat-intoxicated rats

Objective To investigate the effect of simvastatin on inflammatory factor in acute paraquat-intoxicated rats, and to explore the inhibition of statins on inflammatory response in paraquat-intoxicated rats. Methods Seventy-two healthy Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: the control group, Paraquat-intoxicated (PQ) group and Simvastatin group, with 24 rats in each group. The model of Paraquat-intoxicated rats was established by intragastric PQ (120 mg/kg) administration. Two hours later, 20 mg/kg Simvastatinwere administrated in Simvastatin group, while 10 ml/kg saline was administered intragastrically in the control group and PQ group. The 1evels of Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), Interleukin-2 (IL-2) and tumou necrosis infactor-α (TNF-α) in serum were determined 6 h, 24 h and 72 h after treatment. Results 6 h, 24 h, 72 h after treatment, the levels of IL-1β and IL-2 in serum significantly increased in PQ group than the control group, and the levels in Simvastatin group were significantly lower than that in PQ group (P0.05). The level of TNF-α increased significantly in PQ group compared with control group, and the level in Simvastatin group was significantly lower than that in PQ group (P0.05) which decresaed after 6 h, increased after 24 h and then decresaed again. Conclusion Simvastatin can inhibit the release of TNF-α in serum with acute paraquat-intoxicated rats, which can also reduce the releases of IL-1βand IL-2 to certain degree. Statins may play an inhibited role in systemic inflammatory response in acute PQ rats.