Improvement of left ventricular remodeling and function by hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibition with cerivastatin in rats with heartfailure after myocardial infarction

Background-HydroxymethylglutaryI coenzyme. A reductase inhibitors (statins) attenuate angiotensin II-induced cellular signaling. Because angiotensin I I is involved in left ventricular (LV) remodeling after myocardial infarcti on (MI), we examined the effects of statin treatment in an experimental mod el of chronic heart failure after MI. Methods and Results-Rats with extensive MI were treated with placebo or cer ivastatin (0.3 mg/kg per day) as a dietary supplement or via gavage for I I weeks starting on the 7th postoperative day. Infarct size and cholesterol levels were similar among all groups. LV cavity area, an index of LV dilata tion, was reduced in MI rats on cerivastatin compared with placebo. LV end- diastolic pressure was increased in MI rats on placebo (24.1 +/- 4.1 mmHg v ersus sham: 5.1 +/- 0.3 mm Hg; P < 0.01), and it was significantly reduced by cerivastatin treatment (13.7 <plus/minus> 2.7 mm Hg,; P < 0.05 versus pl acebo). Cerivastatin partially normalized LV dP/dt(max) and dP/dt(min), ind ices of LV systolic and diastolic function, which were significantly reduce d in MI rats on placebo. Improvement of LV function by cerivastatin was acc ompanied by a reduced expression of collagen type I and <beta>-myosin heavy chain. LV endothelial nitric oxide synthase was increased, whereas the nit rotyrosine protein level was decreased in MI rats by cerivastatin treatment . Conclusions-Cerivastatin improved LV remodeling and function in rats with h eart failure. This effect was associated with an attenuated LV expression o f fetal myosin heavy chain isoenzymes and collagen I. Statin treatment may retard the progression of chronic heart failure.