2 research outputs found
Simvastatin Ameliorates Diabetic Cardiomyopathy by Attenuating Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Rats
Simvastatin is a lipid-lowering agent used to treat hypercholesterolemia and
to reduce the risk of heart disease. This study scrutinized the beneficial
effects of simvastatin on experimental diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM), pointing
to the role of hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress and inflammation.
Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin and both
control and diabetic rats received simvastatin for 90 days. Diabetic rats
showed significant cardiac hypertrophy, body weight loss, hyperglycemia, and
hyperlipidemia. Serum creatine kinase MB (CK-MB) and troponin I showed a
significant increase in diabetic rats. Simvastatin significantly improved body
weight, attenuated hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia, and ameliorated CK-MB and
troponin I. Simvastatin prevented histological alterations and deposition of
collagen in the heart of diabetic animals. Lipid peroxidation and nitric oxide
were increased in the heart of diabetic rats whereas antioxidant defenses were
decreased. These alterations were significantly reversed by simvastatin. In
addition, simvastatin decreased serum inflammatory mediators and expression of
NF-κB in the diabetic heart. Cardiac caspase-3 was increased in the diabetic
heart and decreased following treatment with simvastatin. In conclusion, our
results suggest that simvastatin alleviates DCM by attenuating hyperglycemia
/hyperlipidemia-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis