The Effect Of Simvastatin On The Expression Of Heme Oxygenase-1 In The Aortic Artery Of Atherosclerotic Rat Models

Objective: To study the effect of simvastation on the expression of heme oxygenase-1(HO-1) in the aortic artery of atherosclerotic(AS) rat models.Methods : Twenty-four SD rats were assigned into 3 groups randomly:normal control group,AS model group and simvastatin treatment group ( 8 rats in each group).The rats in AS model group and treatment group were injected with a single dose of vitamin D3 (600 000U/kg )and fed with high fat diet.Basic food was given in normal control group.The rats in treatment group were treated with simvastatin by gastric tube 4 weeks later.All of the rats were saeririced at the end of the 8th week,the aortic artery was observed by light microscopy and the levels of the serum lipids were detected.The expression of HO-l protein in the aortic artery of atherosclerotic rat models was investigated by immunohistochemistry and manual work analysis.Results: (1)Typical AS plaques were seen in the aorta of the model group.The expression level of HO-l protein were significantly higher in the AS model group than that in the control group(p<0.001).(2) The atheroselotic change of aorta in the treatment group was much mild than that in the AS model group.The expression level of HO-l protein was significantly higher in the treatment group than that in the AS model group (p<0.001).Conclusion: (1) The expression level of HO-l protein was up-regulated in the aortic artery of AS rat models. (2) Simvastatin was able to up-regulate the expression level of HO-l protein in the aortic artery of AS rat models. (3) The anti-atherosclerosis of simvastatin maybe occur through up-regulation of the expression of HO-l protein.