OBJECTIVE: Heart failure is a major and escalating public health problem. Recent studies have demonstrated that statins prevented chronic heart failure (CHF) in animal studies. However, it is unknown whether statins therapy initiated after left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy is evident can still effectively prevent CHF. This study tested the hypothesis that statins can prevent the transition of hypertrophy to heart failure. METHODS AND RESULTS: The rats were studied at 6, 12, and 20 weeks after aortic stenosis (AS) operation. Some rats were given simvastatin (2.0 mg kg(-1) per day) from 13 weeks after AS operation for 8 weeks. Coarctation of aorta in rats resulted in compensatory LV hypertrophy (LVH), concomitant with an increase of superoxide levels and cardiomyocyte apoptosis in LV tissues at 12 weeks after AS operation. This was followed by CHF with a progressive increase in superoxide levels and cardiomyocyte apoptosis in LV tissues at 20 weeks after AS operation. Simvastatin treatment initiated from 13 weeks after AS operation significantly improved LV function and reduced superoxide levels and cardiomyocyte apoptosis in LV tissues. Pretreatment of simvastatin suppressed the hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptosis of cultured cardiomyocytes from neonatal rats. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that long-term administration of simvastatin improved LV function and prevented the transition of hypertrophy to CHF. Inhibition of oxidative stress and cardiomyocyte apoptosis may contribute to the benefits of simvastatin treatment on heart of rats with AS.
OBJECTIVE:Heart failure is a major and escalating public health problem. Recent studies have demonstrated that statins prevented chronic heart failure (CHF) in animal studies. However, it is unknown whether statins therapy initiated after left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy is evident can still effectively prevent CHF. This study tested the hypothesis that statins can prevent the transition of hypertrophy to heart failure. METHODS AND RESULTS: The rats were studied at 6, 12, and 20 weeks after aortic stenosis (AS) operation. Some rats were given simvastatin (2.0 mg kg(-1) per day) from 13 weeks after AS operation for 8 weeks. Coarctation of aorta in rats resulted in compensatory LV hypertrophy (LVH), concomitant with an increase of superoxide levels and cardiomyocyte apoptosis in LV tissues at 12 weeks after AS operation. This was followed by CHF with a progressive increase in superoxide levels and cardiomyocyte apoptosis in LV tissues at 20 weeks after AS operation. Simvastatin treatment initiated from 13 weeks after AS operation significantly improved LV function and reduced superoxide levels and cardiomyocyte apoptosis in LV tissues. Pretreatment of simvastatin suppressed the hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptosis of cultured cardiomyocytes from neonatal rats. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that long-term administration of simvastatin improved LV function and prevented the transition of hypertrophy to CHF. Inhibition of oxidative stress and cardiomyocyte apoptosis may contribute to the benefits of simvastatin treatment on heart of rats with AS.
Authors: Vinitha Senthil; Suet N Chen; Natalie Tsybouleva; Tripti Halder; Sherif F Nagueh; James T Willerson; Robert Roberts; A J Marian Journal: Circ Res Date: 2005-07-14 Impact factor: 17.367
Authors: Ahmad Hersi; J Peter Giannoccaro; Andrew Howarth; Derek Exner; Sarah Weeks; Ingo Eitel; R Cameron Herman; Henry Duff; Debbie Ritchie; Maureen Mcrae; Robert Sheldon Journal: Heart Views Date: 2016 Oct-Dec