HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 295/5/H2046    most recent 00133.2008v1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Google Scholar Articles by Grönros, J. Articles by Gan, L. M. PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Grönros, J. Articles by Gan, L. M.

Effects of rosuvastatin on cardiovascular morphology and function in an ApoE-knockout mouse model of atherosclerosis

¹Department of Physiology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy, Göteborg University, Göteborg; ²Department of Clinical Physiology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Sahlgrenska Academy of Göteborg University, Göteborg; ³Bioscience, AstraZeneca Research and Development, Mölndal, Sweden

Submitted 7 February 2008 ; accepted in final form 10 September 2008

This study investigated the effects of rosuvastatin on plaque progression and in vivo coronary artery function in apolipoprotein E-knockout (ApoE-KO) mice, using noninvasive high-resolution ultrasound techniques. Eight-week-old male ApoE-KO mice (n = 20) were fed a high-fat diet with or without rosuvastatin (10 µmol·kg^–1·day^–1) for 16 wk. When compared with control, rosuvastatin reduced total cholesterol levels (P < 0.05) and caused significant retardation of lesion progression in the brachiocephalic artery, as visualized in vivo using an ultrasound biomicroscope (P < 0.05). Histological analysis confirmed the reduction of brachiocephalic atherosclerosis and also revealed an increase in collagen content in the statin-treated group (P < 0.05). Coronary volumetric flow was measured by simultaneous recording of Doppler velocity signals and left coronary artery morphology before and during adenosine infusion. The hyperemic flow in response to adenosine was significantly greater in left coronary artery following 16 wk of rosuvastatin treatment (P < 0.001), whereas the baseline flow was similar in both groups. In conclusion, rosuvastatin reduced brachiocephalic artery atherosclerotic plaques in ApoE-KO mice. Coronary artery function assessed using recently developed in vivo ultrasound-based protocols, also improved.

apolipoprotein E-knockout mouse; ultrasound imaging; atherosclerosis; rosuvastatin