Effect of atorvastatin on postischemic angiogenesis in diabetic rats with middle cerebral artery occlusion

Objective To study the effect of atorvastatin on postischemic angiogenesis in diabetic rats with middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO). Methods Thirty six male SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group(NC),hyperglycaemia model group(DM) and atorvastatin-treated groups(DM+AT) with 12 rats in each group. The streptozotocin-induced rat model of diabetes mellitus was developed in DM and DM+AT groups.Then the rats in all three groups underwent ligation and excision to induce unilateral carotid artery ischemia(MCAO model).The rats in DM+AT group were given atorvastatin 10 mg/kg.d by gastric infusion for 2 weeks,while in DM group given normal saline for 2 weeks.During the period,the rats freely drank the water and taken food,without hypoglycemic medications.All rats were sacrificed on 15th day and the expression of VEGF,Ⅷ factor and microvessel density(MVD) were detected by immunohistochemical staining. Results The cerebral infarction scores for the NC,DM and DM+AT groups were (15.7±2.8)%,(23.2±2.1)% and (19.3±2.5)%,respectively;MVD for the NC,DM and DM+AT group was 8.1±0.52,6.4±0.38 and 2.4±0.18,respectively;the serum VEGF levels for the NC,DM and DM+AT groups were 2.1±3.3,18.7±2.3 and 13.8±2.7,respectively;the serum Ⅷ factor levels for the NC,DM and DM+AT groups were 10.2±2.8,8.3±1.7 and 6.3±1.3,respectively.The difference were all significant(P<0.05). Conclusion High blood sugar can inhibit the postischemic angiogenesis,and atorvastatin,through adjusts the expression of VEGF and Ⅷ factor,may improve the conditions.