Effect of atorvastatin on angiogenesis in degenerated intervertebral disc in rat

An experimental study to measure the depth of penetration of new vessels in degenerated intervertebral disc in rat.

To evaluate the effects of atorvastatin on angiogenesis in experimental disc degeneration in rat.

Back pain is strongly associated with degenerated intervertebral disc and management of this condition is still empirical. Decrease of nucleus nutrition due to loss of vascularity with aging may aggravate the process of disc degeneration. So, angiogenesis may be useful in the healing process of degenerated disc. In this study, we wanted to evaluate the effect of atorvastatin, whose stimulating effect on angiogenesis on other tissues was shown in several studies, on degenerated intervertebral disc in rat.

Atorvastatin was administered intraperitoneally for 6 weeks in doses of 1, 4, and 8 mg/kg in rats after experimental disc degeneration. The rats intervertebral disc sections were stained immunohistochemically for von Willebrand Factor to evaluate the depth of vessels penetration and degree of vascularity.

In the nonoperated control group, the intervertebral discs were avascular. But experimental disc degeneration promoted angiogenesis. In this group, the mean of penetration was 49.25 μ (standard deviation = 19.905). Atorvastatin stimulated angiogenesis after experimental disc degeneration in the rats and the angiogenesis was more significant in the high and medium dose groups than operated control group. High-dose atorvastatin could not inhibit angiogenesis in experimental degenerated disc. There was no any significant difference in degree of vascularity among the groups.

Atorvastatin stimulates angiogenesis in experimental disc degeneration in rats. But, it does not show a biphasic effect.