3-Hydroxyl-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) have been shown to reduce the incidence of myocardial infarction independent of their lipid-lowering effects. Nitric oxide (NO) in the central nervous system contributes to cardiovascular regulatory mechanisms. Imbalance between nitric oxide (NO) and superoxide anion (O
2
. −
) in the brain may contribute to enhanced sympathetic drive in heart failure (HF). This study was done to determine whether treatment with atorvastatin (ATS) ameliorates the imbalance between NO and O
2
. −
production in the brain stem and contributes to improvement of left ventricular (LV) function.
Methods and Results:
Myocardial infarction (MI) was induced by ligation of the left coronary artery or sham surgery. Subsequently, mice were treated with ATS (10 μg/kg) (MI + ATS), or vehicle (MI + V). After 5 weeks, echocardiography revealed left ventricular dilatation in MI mice. Realtime RT-PCR indicated an increase in the mRNA expression of the LV hypertrophy markers, atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP). Neuronal NOS (nNOS) and endothelial NOS (eNOS) mRNA expression were significantly reduced, while that of NAD(P)H oxidase subunit (gp91phox) expression was elevated in the brain stem of MI mice. Compared with sham-operated mice, ATS-treated mice showed reduced cardiac dilatation, decreased ANP and BNP in the LV. ATS also reduced gp91phox expression and increased nNOS mRNA expression in the brain stem, while no changes in eNOS and iNOS were observed.
Conclusion:
These findings suggest that ATS reduces oxidative stress and increases neuronal NOS in the brain stem, and improves left ventricular function in heart failure.
P5296Heart failure development and RS2274273 in the vicinity of LGALS-3 locus, LGALS-3 relative MRNA expression in patients with first myocardial infarction
