Pretreatment with high-dose statin, but not low-dose statin, ezetimibe, or the combination of low-dose statin and ezetimibe, limits infarct size in the rat

J Cardiovasc Pharmacol Ther. 2008 Mar;13(1):72-9. doi: 10.1177/1074248407312839.

Abstract

Statins reduce infarct size by upregulating nitric oxide synthases and PGI2 production. In this article, the infarct size-limiting effect of low-dose simvastatin + ezetimibe, ezetimibe, and high-dose statins were compared. Rats received 3-day water, atorvastatin (10 mg/kg/d), simvastatin (10 mg/kg/d), simvastatin (2 mg/kg/d), simvastatin (2 mg/kg/d) + ezetimibe (1 mg/kg/d), or ezetimibe. Rats underwent 30-minute coronary artery occlusion and 4-hour reperfusion. Atorvastatin and simvastatin 10 reduced infarct size, whereas simvastatin 2, ezetimibe, and simvastatin 2 + ezetimibe had no effect. Atorvastatin and simvastatin 10 increased nitric oxide synthases activity, whereas simvastatin-2, ezetimibe, and simvastatin-2 + ezetimibe had only a small effect. Atorvastatin and simvastatin 10 significantly increased myocardial 6-ketoprostaglandin F(1 alpha) levels, whereas simvastatin 2, ezetimibe, and simvastatin 2 + ezetimibe had no effect. High-dose statin is required to decrease infarct size, upregulate myocardial nitric oxide synthases activities, and increase 6-keto prostaglandin F(1 alpha) levels. Combination of ezetimibe and low-dose statin is ineffective in modulating myocardial biochemical changes associated with cardioprotection.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Anticholesteremic Agents / administration & dosage
  • Anticholesteremic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Atorvastatin
  • Azetidines / pharmacology*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Ezetimibe
  • Heptanoic Acids / administration & dosage
  • Heptanoic Acids / pharmacology
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / administration & dosage
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Male
  • Myocardial Infarction / drug therapy*
  • Myocardial Infarction / physiopathology
  • Myocardial Reperfusion Injury / drug therapy
  • Myocardial Reperfusion Injury / physiopathology
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase / drug effects
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase / metabolism
  • Pyrroles / administration & dosage
  • Pyrroles / pharmacology
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Simvastatin / administration & dosage
  • Simvastatin / pharmacology
  • Up-Regulation / drug effects

Substances

  • Anticholesteremic Agents
  • Azetidines
  • Heptanoic Acids
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
  • Pyrroles
  • 6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha
  • Atorvastatin
  • Simvastatin
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase
  • Ezetimibe