Objective: To observe the preconditioning cardioprotection of atorvastatin (ATV) in rabbits underwent 40 min ischemia and 240 min reperfusion and to explore related mechanisms.
Methods: The rabbits were randomized divided into Control group, ATV group (10 mg.kg(-1).d(-1) for 3 days before ischemia), ATV plus iNOS inhibitor S-methylisothiourea sulfate group (ATV + SMT group), SMT group, ATV plus mito K(ATP) channel blocker 5-hydroxydecanoate group (ATV + 5-HD group) and 5-HD group (n = 16 each group). The infarction size, CK-MB, LDH-1, nitric oxide synthase and mitochondrial ATP synthesization capacity ([ATP] m) were determined at the end of reperfusion.
Results: Infarction size, CK-MB, LDH-1 were decreased by 26.3%, 31.4%, 19.1% and iNOS, [ATP] m increased by 102.6%, 46.8% post ATV compared to control group (all P < 0.05) and these effects could be blocked by cotreatment with SMT and 5-HD except the iNOS was not affected by 5-HD.
Conclusion: The atorvastatin preconditioning exerted cardioprotection by upregulating iNOS and activating mito K(ATP).