Atorvastatin Prevented and Reversed Dexamethasone-Induced Hypertension in the Rat

Abstract

To assess the antioxidant effects of atorvastatin (atorva) on dexamethasone (dex)-induced hypertension, 60 male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with atorva 30 mg/kg/day or tap water for 15 days. Dex increased systolic blood pressure (SBP) from 109 ± 1.8 to 135 ± 0.6 mmHg and plasma superoxide (5711 ± 284.9 saline, 7931 ± 392.8 U/ml dex, P<0.001). In this prevention study, SBP in the atorva + dex group was increased from 115 ± 0.4 to 124 ± 1.5 mmHg, but this was significantly lower than in the dex-only group (P′<0.05). Atorva reversed dex-induced hypertension (129 ± 0.6 mmHg, vs. 135 ± 0.6 mmHg P′<0.05) and decreased plasma superoxide (7931 ± 392.8 dex, 1187 ± 441.2 atorva + dex, P<0.0001). Plasma nitrate/nitrite (NOx) was decreased in dex-treated rats compared to saline-treated rats (11.2 ± 1.08 μm, 15.3 ± 1.17 μm, respectively, P<0.05). Atorva affected neither plasma NOx nor thymus weight. Thus, atorvastatin prevented and reversed dexamethasone-induced hypertension in the rat.

Keywords:

• atorvastatin
• dexamethasone
• blood pressure
• rat