Histological And Physiological Evaluation Of Atorvastatin In Mitigating Atherosclerosis A Study Of Vascular Remodeling

Q: What are the key findings of this study?

High-dose atorvastatin (10 mg/kg/day) significantly reduced atherosclerotic lesion area to 10% compared to 35% in untreated rats with diet-induced atherosclerosis.

Q: What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Population: Atherosclerosis (n=24). Intervention: Atorvastatin vs. High-cholesterol diet only (ATH) and normal chow (Control). Primary outcome: Atherosclerotic Lesion Area (%) (p=<0.001).

Q: What does this research mean for the field?

High-dose atorvastatin significantly reduces atherosclerotic lesion area and vascular remodeling in diet-induced atherosclerosis. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.CONFIRMATORY. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.SUPPORTS_CONSENSUS.

Q: What question did this study set out to answer?

To assess the histological and physiological effects of atorvastatin on vascular remodeling, arterial stiffness, and blood markers in a rat model of diet-induced atherosclerosis.

Al-Sayed Al-Hady Abd-Elrahman, Mohamed M. Sonbol, Mohammed Hussien Mohammed Hassan, Ahmad Mohammad Mohammad Abdella, Mahmoud Ahmad Mohammed Azab, Rihana Naguib Mohammad Mostafa, Fayez Mohammed Abd Elfattah Elbayoumy, Mohamed Dmerdash; Ahmad Abd El-Azim Ahmad Hamad, Hussein Barakat Yousof, Mohamed Hamdeen Mandour, Rashad Abd El-Nabi Atlam, Elsayed Elagamy Elsayed, Osama M.A.M. Elzahaby, Ahmed Mohammed Taha

doi:10.70082/jvmdq075

December 6, 2025The Review of Diabetic StudiesOpen Access

Histological And Physiological Evaluation Of Atorvastatin In Mitigating Atherosclerosis A Study Of Vascular Remodeling

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Key result

High-dose atorvastatin cuts atherosclerotic lesion area by an absolute ~25% in preclinical model.

P<0.001
n=24

Why the study?

The study evaluates the effect of atorvastatin on histological and physiological markers associated with coronary artery disease in atherosclerosis.

Does atorvastatin improve histological and physiological markers of vascular remodeling in a rat model of atherosclerosis?

Key Points

To assess the histological and physiological effects of atorvastatin on vascular remodeling, arterial stiffness, and blood markers in a rat model of diet-induced atherosclerosis.
Arteriosclerosis was induced in 24 male New Zealand rats via a high-cholesterol diet, and rats were randomly divided into four groups: control (G1), untreated atherosclerosis (G2), low-dose atorvastatin (5 mg/kg/day; G3), and high-dose atorvastatin (10 mg/kg/day; G4).
After 12 weeks, evaluations included lipid panels, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), systolic blood pressure, carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), pulse wave velocity (PWV), and histological analysis of aortic lesion area and macrophage infiltration.
Untreated atherosclerotic rats exhibited severe dyslipidemia (total cholesterol 285 ± 22.4 mg/dL; LDL-C 195 ± 18.5 mg/dL; HDL-C 28 ± 4.1 mg/dL) and elevated hs-CRP (6.5 ± 1.1 mg/L), whereas 10 mg/kg/day atorvastatin reduced total cholesterol to 135 ± 14.2 mg/dL, LDL-C to 75 ± 10.3 mg/dL, and hs-CRP to 2.2 ± 0.5 mg/L while raising HDL-C to 48 ± 5.8 mg/dL (p < 0.001 across groups).
Vascular markers improved in a dose-dependent manner: systolic blood pressure fell from 140 ± 11.2 mmHg in the untreated group to 125 ± 8.9 mmHg (5 mg/kg) and 110 ± 7.1 mmHg (10 mg/kg), cIMT decreased from 0.70 ± 0.08 mm to 0.35 ± 0.04 mm, and PWV dropped from 9.0 ± 1.0 m/s to 5.0 ± 0.5 m/s (p < 0.001).
Histological aortic lesion area decreased from 35 ± 5% in untreated atherosclerotic rats to 20 ± 4% with low-dose atorvastatin and 10 ± 3% with high-dose atorvastatin, alongside parallel reductions in macrophage infiltration from 35 ± 5% to 12 ± 3% (p < 0.001).

Structured PICO

Does atorvastatin improve histological and physiological markers of vascular remodeling in a rat model of atherosclerosis?

P

Population

24 male albino rats with diet-induced atherosclerosis randomized to control, untreated atherosclerosis, or low/high-dose atorvastatin therapy for 12 weeks.

I

Intervention

Atorvastatin administered daily via oral gavage for the final 8 weeks of the study at either a low dose (5 mg/kg/day) or high dose (10 mg/kg/day).

C

Comparator

Atherosclerosis control group (received high-cholesterol diet only) and healthy control group (received normal chow and distilled water).

O

Outcome

Histological, physiological, and biochemical markers of atherosclerosis including lipid profile, hs-CRP, intima-media thickness (IMT), pulse wave velocity (PWV), and lesion area evaluated at 12 weeks.surrogate

Main Result

Absolute Event Rate: 10% vs 35%

p-value: p=<0.001

Atorvastatin provided dose-dependent improvements in lipid profiles, systemic inflammation, and structural vascular remodeling in a rat model of diet-induced atherosclerosis.

Implication

Extends pleiotropic evidence to high-dose atorvastatin in a rat atherosclerosis model; leaves open human translation.

Abstract

Background and aim: The evolution of atherosclerosis is characterized by notable external and internal arterial structural modifications, including an enlarged luminal diameter and alterations in wall composition. The present study evaluates the effect of atorvastatin on histological and physiological markers associated with coronary artery disease (CAD). Method Arteriosclerosis was induced in 24 male New Zealand rats by a high-cholesterol diet, and the rats were subsequently treated with atorvastatin. The rats were randomly divided into four groups for comparative analysis. After 12 weeks, physiological assessments were performed, including blood sampling for lipid levels, systolic blood pressure measurement, and echocardiographic evaluation. Following euthanasia, tissues were collected for histological evaluation of aortic lesions, intima-density hypertrophy, and smooth muscle cell content using immunohistochemistry. Vascular function in isolated aortic loops was also assessed. Statistical significance was determined using one-way ANOVA or the Kruskal-Wallis test, as appropriate. Results The rats with atherosclerosis exhibited severe dyslipidemia: total cholesterol was 285 mg/dL, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol was 195 mg/dL, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol was 28 mg/dL. Inflammatory markers were also elevated, as evidenced by a high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) level of 6.5 mg/L. Furthermore, the rats were classified as stage 1 hypertension, reflected in a systolic blood pressure of 140 mmHg. Increased vascular stiffness was indicated by a carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) of 0.7 mm and a pulse wave velocity (PWV) of 9 m/s. Conclusion In alignment with these results and studies demonstrating that atorvastatin exerts pleiotropic effects beyond lipid modulation, clinical practice guidelines recommend high-intensity statin therapy for the primary prevention of cardiovascular events.

Discussion

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Cite This Study

Dmerdash et al. (2025) studied Atherosclerosis (n=24). Atorvastatin vs. High-cholesterol diet only (ATH) and normal chow (Control) was evaluated on Atherosclerotic Lesion Area (%) (p=<0.001). High-dose atorvastatin (10 mg/kg/day) significantly reduced atherosclerotic lesion area to 10% compared to 35% in untreated rats with diet-induced atherosclerosis.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6ace6de6b52af824ab02bc1a https://doi.org/10.70082/jvmdq075

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Histological And Physiological Evaluation Of Atorvastatin In Mitigating Atherosclerosis A Study Of Vascular Remodeling

Key Points

Structured PICO

Main Result

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

Topics

Histological And Physiological Evaluation Of Atorvastatin In Mitigating Atherosclerosis A Study Of Vascular Remodeling

Key Points

Structured PICO

Main Result

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

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