Effects of Atorvastatin on Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis and Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha in Serum of Hyperccholesterolemia Rabbits

Objective To investigate the effects of atorvastatin on the formation of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and serum TNF-α concentration of hypercholesterolemia rabbits. Methods Twenty-four New Zealand white rabbits were randomly assigned to normal group(normal diet for 12 weeks),high cholesterol group(high-cholesterol diet for 12 weeks) and atorvastatin group(after high cholesterol diet for 8 weeks,the same cholesterol diet supplemented with atorvastatin 2.5 mg/kg/d for 4 weeks).The serum lipid and TNF-α level of rabbits were measured.Pathomorphology in hepatic tissue were detected. Result Rabbits of high cholesterol group showed higher serum levels of total cholesterol,low density lipoprotein cholesterol and TNF-α than those of control group(P0.01),and they also showed significantly more aggravated liver steatosis(R= 0.72),increased liver weight s and more fat-storing cells counting than those of control group(P0.01).Compared with high cholesterol group,atorvastatin treatment could significantly reduce the levels of serum total cholesterol,low density lipoprotein cholesterol and TNF-α(P 0.05),and significantly improve liver steatosis(R= 0.53),decrease liver weight s and fat-storing cells counting(P0.05). Conclusion Our study indicated that atorvastatin therapy could reduce the degree of liver steatosis,which might be partially dependent on its lipid-lowering effect and decreasing serum TNF-α levels in hypercholesterolemia rabbits.