Attenuation of contractile dysfunction by atorvastatin after intestinal ischemia reperfusion injury in rats

Growing number of studies implicate that 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors, or statins, have beneficial effects on ischemia/reperfusion injury that are unrelated to their cholesterol-lowering action. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate possible effects of atorvastatin on oxidative stress, neutrophil accumulation, and contractile response of terminal ileum segments in rats subjected to intestinal ischemia/reperfusion. Intestinal ischemia/reperfusion model was generated by clamping the superior mesenteric artery for 30 min followed by reperfusion for 3 h. Oral administration of atorvastatin at a dose of 10 mg/kg/day lasted 3 days just before induction of intestinal ischemia. At the end of reperfusion period, terminal ileum samples were removed to determine the concentrations of malondialdehyde, reduced glutathione, and myeloperoxidase. Samples were collected also to assess histopathological alterations and contractile response to agonists. Ischemia/reperfusion significantly decreased contractile responses, and this decrease was attenuated by atorvastatin. Pretreatment with atorvastatin caused remarkable decrease in both oxidative stress and neutrophil accumulation. Atorvastatin appeared to be restoring amount of reduced glutathione back to about control level. Furthermore, the pretreatment lowered mucosal damage at histopathological level. Our results suggested that pretreatment with atorvastatin attenuated intestinal muscle dysfunction associated with ischemia/reperfusion. This remarkable effect of atorvastatin is accomplished at least by decreasing oxidative stress and neutrophil accumulation as well as preventing the depletion of reduced glutathione. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.