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Atorvastatin Improves Cardiovascular Status, but Does Not Prevent the Development of Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Streptozotocin‐induced Diabetic Rats
Author(s) -
Quidgley Jose,
Cruz Nildris,
Lopez Jose Carlos,
Ramirez Manuel A.,
Crespo Maria J.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.26.1_supplement.1057.21
Subject(s) - medicine , diabetic cardiomyopathy , cardiology , atorvastatin , streptozotocin , diabetes mellitus , ejection fraction , diastole , dilated cardiomyopathy , stroke volume , blood pressure , cardiac function curve , hemodynamics , endocrinology , heart failure , cardiomyopathy
Therapy with statins is associated with a significant reduction of cardiovascular (CV) events in normo‐cholesterolemic diabetic patients. The mechanisms, however, remain unclear. We assessed the effects of 4‐week administration of atorvastatin (ATV, 10 mg/kg/day) on CV function in streptozotocin‐induced diabetic rats. Age‐matched, non‐diabetic rats were used as controls (CT). Systolic blood pressure (SBP) and echocardiographic parameters were evaluated. Previous reports from our laboratory showed that SBP is significantly higher in diabetic rats than in non‐diabetic rats. In the current study, ATV decreased SBP in diabetic rats by 14% (P<0.05), whereas the drug did not modify this parameter in CT rats. ATV also increased stroke volume (from 0.20±0.02 to 0.51±0.06 ml, n=5, P<0.05), ejection fraction (from 44.9±3 to 59.9%, n=5, P<0.05), and cardiac output (from 63.6 ±7 to 145.5 ±17 ml/min, n=5, P<0.05) in diabetic rats. In addition, ATV reduced left ventricular end systolic volume by 27% (P<0.05), but failed to reduce left ventricular end diastolic volume. These results indicate that although ATV does not reverse ventricular dilatation, it has a positive hemodynamic effect on the CV system of diabetic rats. Thus, type 1 diabetic patients may benefit from ATV treatment beyond the reduction of cholesterol levels. Supported by MBRS‐RISE Grant R25‐GM061838.