{Reference Type}: Journal Article
{Title}: The low-dose atorvastatin and valsartan combination effectively protects the arterial wall from atherogenic diet-induced impairment in the guinea pig.
{Author}: Janić M;Lunder M;Zupan J;Černe D;Marc J;Drevenšek G;Šabovič M;
{Journal}: Eur J Pharmacol
{Volume}: 743
{Issue}: 0
{Year}: Nov 2014 15
{Factor}: 5.195
{DOI}: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2014.09.027
{Abstract}: New preventive strategies for atherosclerosis are needed. In this study, we tested whether a new therapeutic approach consisting of low-dose treatment with a statin and sartan combination could prevent atherogenic diet-induced impairment of the arterial wall in guinea pigs. Twenty-five Dunkin-Hartley guinea pigs were randomly assigned to five experimental groups: 1) normal diet; 2) atherogenic diet (AD); 3) AD + a low-dose atorvastatin and valsartan combination (5mg/kg/day and 2.4mg/kg/day, respectively); 4) AD + low-dose atorvastatin (5mg/kg/day); 5) AD + low-dose valsartan (2.4mg/kg/day). After 8 weeks of treatment, the animals were killed, blood samples collected and thoracic and abdominal aortas isolated. The atherogenic diet significantly impaired maximal thoracic aorta endothelium-dependent relaxation by 40.1% relative to the normal diet. The low-dose combination, compared to the separate drugs, completely preserved thoracic aorta endothelium-dependent relaxation at the level of the group receiving normal diet. This substantial effect was associated with a significant change in the expression of NOS3 (R=0.93; P=0.0002) and IL1b (R=-0.79; P=0.003) genes. In addition, treatment with the low-dose combination or the separate drugs also prevented atherosclerotic plaque formation. We found that treatment with the low-dose atorvastatin and valsartan combination has the capability to completely protect the arterial wall from atherogenic diet-induced damage in the guinea pig model. Further studies evaluating this new therapeutic approach are desirable.