Effects of atorvastatin on expression of cytochrome P450 hydroaylase in spontaneously hypertensive rats

AIM: To investigate the effects of atorvastatin on blood pressure and expression of cytochrome P450 hydroaylase (CYP) 4A1 in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). METHODS: SHRs (n=18) were randomly divided into three groups: SHR control group, 50 mg atorvastatin (HATV) group and 10 mg (LATV) group. Six male Wistar-Kyoto rats were selected as normal control group (WKY group). All rats were given vehicle once a day by gavage for 10 weeks. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was measured before and after treatment every 2 weeks. The expressions of CYP 4A1 mRNA and protein in heart, liver, kidney, and aorta were detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting analysis, respectively. Plasma lipids were also measured.RESULTS: SBP in all SHR groups was much higher than that in WKY group before experiment (P<0.01). Compared with SHR control group, SBP significantly decreased in HATV group at 6, 8, 10 weeks and in LATV group merely at 10 weeks (P<0.01 or P<0.05). The expressions of CYP 4A1 mRNA and protein in heart, liver, kidney and aorta tissues of SHR control group were significantly higher than those in WKY group (P<0.01 or P<0.05). After 10 weeks, the levels of CYP 4A1 mRNA, protein and plasma lipids in HATV and LATV groups were markedly lower than those in SHR control group (P<0.01 or P<0.05).CONCLUSION: Atorvastatin down-regulates the expressions of CYP 4A1 mRNA and protein in SHR, which may be the mechanism of the favorable effects of statins on regulation of hypertension.