Effects of simvastatin on left ventricular hypertrophy and function in rats with aortic stenosis.
AIM
To investigate the effects of simvastatin (Sim) on left ventricular hypertrophy in rats with pressure-overload cardiac hypertrophy.


METHODS
The left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) of rats was induced by partly occluding abdominal aorta below right renal artery. The rats were given i.g. Sim (1.8 and 3.6 mg.kg-1.d-1) for 8 wk. Three days after operation, left ventricular function was measured. Then the left ventricle (LV) + septum and the right ventricle (RV) were weighed. Hydroxyproline content of LV was measured.


RESULTS
Eight weeks later, in the LVH group, LV weight (LVW), LVW/body weight (BW), LVW/RV weight (RVW), LV ending diastolic pressure (LVEDP), and hydroxyproline content increased by 36%, 51%, 28%, 92%, and 23%, respectively (all P < 0.01) compared with the sham group. LV + dp/dtmax and -dp/dtmax decreased by 39.2% and 39.4% (all P < 0.01). After the rats were given i.g. Sim 3.6 mg.kg-1.d-1, LVW, LVW/BW, LVW/RVW, left ventricle ending diastolic pressure (LVEDP), and hydroxyproline content decreased by 22%, 21%, 23%, 24%, and 11% compared with LVH group (all P < 0.01), LV + dp/dtmax and -dp/dtmax increased by 60% and 32% (all P < 0.01).


CONCLUSION
Sim inhibited development of LV hypertrophy and improved LV function in rats with aortic stenosis.