Author/Authors :
Hemmeti، Ali Asghar نويسنده Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of
Pharmacy, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz,
IR Iran , , Zerafatfard، Mohammad Rahim نويسنده Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran. , , Goudarzi، Mehdi نويسنده Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Pharmacy School, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, IR Iran Goudarzi, Mehdi , Khodayar، Mohammad Javad نويسنده Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran. , , Rezaie، Anahita نويسنده Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Chamran University, Ahvaz, Iran. , , Rashidi Nooshabadi، Mohammad Reza نويسنده Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran. , , Kiani، Milad نويسنده M.Sc. students of water resources Engineering, Department of Water Engineering, Faculty of Water and Soil, University of Zabol ,
Abstract :
Pulmonary fibrosis is an idiopathic and chronic inflammatory
interstitial lung disease, with a negligible response to available
medical therapies and potentially fatal prognosis. Statins
(3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A [HMG CoA] reductase inhibitors)
have broad pleiotropic properties and are used to treat multiple
diseases. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of
different doses of atorvastatin (10, 20, and 40 mg/kg) on bleomycin
(BLM)-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats. Thirty female 8-wk-old Sprague
Dawley rats, weighing 200 ± 20 g, were randomly divided into five
experimental groups. Group 1 (control) received saline intratracheally
(IT), group 2 received a single dose of BLM (7.5 UI/kg/mL, IT) on day 7
and no treatment, and groups 3 - 5 received atorvastatin orally at doses
of 10, 20, and 40 mg/kg, respectively, one week before and again three
weeks after BLM administration. The rats were sacrificed 21 days after
the administration of BLM. Blood and lungs were collected for plasma
malondialdehyde (MDA), lung hydroxyproline, and histopathological
examination. The results showed that lung hydroxyproline and plasma MDA
levels were significantly reduced in the atorvastatin-treated groups,
especially the 40 mg/kg group, compared to the BLM untreated group (P
< 0.05). Furthermore, atorvastatin prevented infiltration of
inflammatory cells, proliferation of fibroblasts, and alveolar
thickening due to BLM. Atorvastatin may play a protective role in
pulmonary fibrosis, with its effects mediated via the station’s
antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Atorvastatin may be a
potential agent for the treatment of lung injury and fibrosis.
