Effects Of Atorvastatin On Cardiomyocyte Apoptosis And Caspase-9 Activation After Coronary Microembolization In Rats

Objective To investigate effects of Atorvastatin on cardiomyocyte apoptosis and Caspase-9 activation after coronary microembolization (CME)in rats.Methods SD rats were randomized to sham-operated group(S group,n=10),coronary microembolization group (CME group,n=10),Atorvastatin group(A group,n=10) and Caspase-9 inhibitor (Z-LEHD-FMK,n=10) group(I group,n=10). Coronary microembolization models were produced by injection of 42μm microspheres 0.1mL(3×104/mL) into the left ventricle during 15 seconds ascending aorta occlusion in rats. The S groups were injected saline instead. The rats were received atorvastatin(10mg·Kg·d-1) or Z-LEHD-FMK( 0.8μmoL·Kg-1 ) before microembolization was A group or I group.Cardiomyocyte apoptosis was detected with in TUNEL staining. The activation of Caspase-9 was detected with Western blot analysis. Cardiac function was assessed by transthoracic two-dimensional echocardiography. Results①Cardiac function was significally decreased in CME group comparing to S group (P<0.05). Compared with CME group ,Cardiac function were obviously improved in A group or I group.②Compared with S group , the apoptosis rate of cardiomyocyte and the levels of actived Caspase-9 proteins in CME group were significantly increased (all P<0.05). Compared with CME group, the apoptosis rate of cardiomyocyte and the levels of actived Caspase-9 proteins in A group and I group were significantly decreased (P<0.05).③Compared with I group, Cardiac function,the apoptosis rate of cardiomyocyte and the levels of actived Caspase-9 proteins in A group were not obviously different(P>0.05).Conclusion Atorvastatin can inhibit the activation of Caspase-9 and the apoptosis of cardiomyocyte,and then improve cardiac function after CME.