Efficiency of atorvastatin and simvastatin in improving cardiac function during the different degrees of
Tamara R Nikolic Turnic1, Vladimir Lj Jakovljevic2,3, Dragan M Djuric4
1a Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia.
Insights
Atorvastatin and simvastatin were tested for their effects on heart function in rats with hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy). Atorvastatin demonstrated a greater ability to improve cardiac contractility and reverse abnormalities caused by HHcy compared to simvastatin.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Pharmacology
- Biochemistry
- Animal Models
Background:
- Hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) is linked to cardiovascular disease and impaired myocardial contractility.
- Statins, like atorvastatin and simvastatin, are used to manage cardiovascular risk factors.
- The comparative effects of these statins on cardiac function in HHcy models require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of atorvastatin and simvastatin on myocardial contractility in rats with varying degrees of hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy).
- To compare the efficacy of atorvastatin versus simvastatin in mitigating HHcy-induced cardiac dysfunction.
Main Methods:
- Adult male Wistar albino rats were subjected to dietary manipulation to induce HHcy.
- Rats received daily intraperitoneal injections of atorvastatin (3 mg/kg) or simvastatin (5 mg/kg).
- Cardiac function, including left ventricular pressure development and heart rate, was assessed using the Langendorff technique under physiological and HHcy conditions.
Main Results:
- Atorvastatin treatment significantly attenuated homocysteine-induced impairment of myocyte contractility.
- Atorvastatin dominantly decreased maximum and minimum rates of left ventricular pressure development (dp/dtmax, dp/dtmin) and heart rate compared to simvastatin.
- Atorvastatin induced greater improvements in systolic left ventricular development, suggesting a superior ability to revert systolic abnormalities.
Conclusions:
- Atorvastatin appears more effective than simvastatin in improving myocardial contractility and reversing systolic abnormalities in a rat model of hyperhomocysteinemia.
- These findings suggest potential differential therapeutic benefits of statins in managing cardiac dysfunction associated with HHcy.
Abstract:
The aim of this study was to assess the impact of atorvastatin and simvastatin on myocardial contractility during the different degrees of hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) in rats. Study was conducted on adult male Wistar albino rats (n = 90; 4 weeks old; 100 ± 15 g body mass) in which HHcy was achieved by dietary manipulation. Animals were exposed to pharmacology treatment with atorvastatin in dose of 3 mg/kg per day i.p. or simvastatin in dose of 5 mg/kg per day i.p. at the same time every day, according to equivalent therapeutic doses of these statins (10 mg atorvastatin = 20 mg simvastatin). After the dietary manipulation and pharmacological treatment and confirmation of HHcy, all animals were sacrificed, hearts were isolated, and cardiac function was tested according to the Langendorff technique. Size of recovery of maximum rate of left ventricular development (dp/dtmax), minimum rate of left ventricular development (dp/dtmin), systolic left ventricular development, diastolic left ventricular development, heart rate, and coronary flow at the 40, 60, 80, 100, and 120 cmH2O coronary perfusion pressure were measured in state of physiological condition (homocysteine less than 15 μmol/L), mild HHcy, and moderate HHcy. Atorvastatin treatment significantly attenuated homocysteine-induced impairment of myocyte contractility and dominantly decreased dp/dtmax, dp/dtmin, and heart rate and induced greater changes in systolic left ventricular development compared with simvastatin. Treatment with atorvastatin seems able to revert systolic abnormalities and improve contractility during the different degrees of HHcy.
Related Concept Videos
01:24One-Degree-of-Freedom System
A one-degree-of-freedom system is defined by an independent variable that determines its state and behavior. One example of a one-degree-of-freedom system is a simple harmonic oscillator, such as a...
01:02Degrees of Freedom
For example, suppose there are three unknown numbers whose mean is 10; although we can freely assign values to the first and second numbers, the value of the last number can not be arbitrarily assigned.
01:02Degrees of Freedom
For example, suppose there are three unknown numbers whose mean is 10; although we can freely assign values to the first and second numbers, the value of the last number can not be arbitrarily...
02:05Degree of Unsaturation
The degree of unsaturation for hydrocarbons is U = (2C + 2 − H) / 2, where C is the number of carbon atoms and H is the number of hydrogen atoms.
01:29Radian and Degree Measure
01:19Degree of Curvature and Radius of Curvature