Mitochondria of trained skeletal muscle are protected from deleterious effects of statins

Statins are associated with adverse skeletal muscle effects. Our objective was to determine if muscular adaptations following exercise training prevented deleterious effects of atorvastatin in glycolytic skeletal muscle.

Twenty rats were divided into 2 groups: a control group (n = 10; Cont) and a 10 days of training group (n = 10; Training). Using the permeabilized fibers technique, we explored mitochondrial function.

Exercise training increased V(max) and H(2)O(2) production without altering the free radical leak, and mRNA expression of SOD2 and Cox1 were higher in trained muscle. In the Cont group, atorvastatin exposure increased H(2)O(2) production and decreased skeletal muscle V(max). The decreased V(max) effect of atorvastatin was dose dependent. Interestingly, the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC(50)) was higher in the Training group. H(2)O(2) production increased in trained muscle after atorvastatin exposure.

These results suggest that improvements in mitochondrial respiratory and antioxidant capacities following endurance training protected mitochondria against statin exposure.