Effects of Simvastatin on adiponectin and endothelial function in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice

Objective:To investigate the effects of simvastatin,a 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A(HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor,on adiponectin and markers of endothelial function in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice at an early stage of atherosclerosis. Methods:Twenty-four 6-week old male apoE-deficient mice were randomly divided into two groups: control group(normal saline) and treatment group simvastatin(5 mg/(kg·d). Simvastatin was administered to treatment group mice by gavage and the same volume of normal saline was administered to control group mice by the same method for 4 weeks. Total cholesterol(TC),superoxide dismutase(SOD),malondialdehyde (MDA),and nitric oxide(NO) were measured by biochemical analysis,and adiponectin was measured by an ABC-ELISA method. Results: There was no significant difference in serum TC between control and treatment groups. Compared with the control animals,simvastatin-treated animals exhibited a significant increase in serum levels of adponectin,SOD and NO,and decrease in serum MDA(P < 0.01). Conclusion: Simvastatin protects endothelial function by increasing serum adiponectin,which may increase serum SOD and NO,and decrease serum MDA. This study suggests that simvastatin has therapeutic advantages,unrelated to its cholesterol-lowering effect,that are mediated by adiponectin.