Open AccessAtorvastatin Attenuates Bone Loss and Aortic Valve Atheroma in LDLR<sup>-/-</sup> Mice
Author(s) -
Nalini M. Rajamannan
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
cardiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1421-9751
pISSN - 0008-6312
DOI - 10.1159/000381703
Subject(s) - atorvastatin , osteoclast , medicine , calcification , endocrinology , osteoporosis , cholesterol , atheroma , ldl receptor , calcein , chemistry , lipoprotein , receptor , biochemistry , membrane
Atherosclerosis and osteoporosis are the leading causes of mortality and morbidity. The objective of this study was to test this hypothesis in experimental hypercholesterolemia to determine whether statins play a protective role in this process. LDLR-/- mice (n = 60) were allocated to the following groups: group I (n = 20), normal diet; group II (n = 20), 0.25% (w/w) cholesterol diet (w/w), and group III (n = 20), 0.25% (w/w) cholesterol diet + atorvastatin for 48 weeks. Examination of aortic valves (AVA) and femurs for atherosclerosis and calcification markers included micro-CT, special stains, and calcein incorporation. The cholesterol diet induced bone formation in calcified AVA and an increase in macrophage infiltration. Hyperlipidemic bones expressed an increase in osteoclast cells and a decrease in bone formation. Atorvastatin reduced atherosclerosis and bone mineralization in AVA and increased mineralization within femur bones (p < 0.05). Atherosclerosis is present in hyperlipidemic bones and valves as characterized by macrophage and osteoclast infiltration, and it is attenuated by atorvastatin, which may have implications for therapy in the future.