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Atorvastatin attenuates cardiomyocyte loss in adult rats from protein-restricted dams

Daniele Gonçalves Bezerra1, Lívia Marinho Lacerda Andrade, Fernanda Ornellas Pinto da Cruz

  • 1Laboratory of Morphometry and Cardiovascular Morphology, Biomedical Centre, Institute of Biology, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Av 28 de Setembro, 87 (fds)-20551-030 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.

Journal of Cardiac Failure
|March 8, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Atorvastatin treatment in later life improved heart structure in offspring from protein-restricted diets. This cholesterol-lowering drug reduced blood pressure, glucose, and cardiomyocyte size while improving vascularization and reducing fibrosis.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Science
  • Pharmacology
  • Developmental Biology

Background:

  • Statins are widely used cholesterol-lowering drugs known for preventing cardiac events.
  • The impact of statins on cardiac remodeling in offspring subjected to maternal protein restriction remains unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of atorvastatin on cardiac remodeling in male Wistar rats exposed to maternal low-protein diets.
  • To determine if atorvastatin administration during specific developmental periods influences cardiac structure and function.

Main Methods:

  • Offspring from dams fed normal protein (NP) or low-protein (LP) diets were studied.
  • Male pups were treated with atorvastatin (5 or 30 mg/kg/day) during two distinct periods: 21 days to 3 months, and 3 to 6 months of age.
  • Blood pressure, blood glucose, cardiomyocyte size, interstitial fibrosis, myocardial vascularization, and cardiomyocyte number were assessed.

Main Results:

  • Untreated LP offspring exhibited significantly higher blood pressure (30%), blood glucose (30%), interstitial fibrosis (74%), and reduced cardiomyocyte number (38%) and myocardial vascularization (25%) compared to treated offspring.
  • Atorvastatin treatment significantly reduced cardiomyocyte size (24%) in LP offspring.
  • The beneficial effects were observed when atorvastatin was administered from 3 to 6 months of age, but not from 21 days to 3 months.

Conclusions:

  • Atorvastatin administration between 3 and 6 months of age demonstrates beneficial effects on cardiac remodeling in offspring from protein-restricted diets.
  • Treatment improves myocardial vascularization by diminishing fibrosis and cardiomyocyte loss.
  • The timing of atorvastatin administration is crucial for its beneficial impact on cardiac health in this model.
Abstract

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