Paradoxical effects of atorvastatin in isoproterenol-induced cardiotoxicity in rats: Role of oxidative stress and inflammation.

Atorvastatin (ATV) was previously shown to improve oxidative stress, inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in several experimental and clinical studies yet other studies have reported a pro-oxidant and damaging effect upon ATV administration. The present study was directed to investigate the effect of ATV pre- and post-treatment in isoproterenol (ISO)-induced cardiotoxicity in rats. Myocardial damage was induced by ISO (5 mg/kg/day, s.c.) for 1 week. ATV (10 mg/kg/day, p.o.) was given for 2 weeks starting 1 week before or after ISO administration. ISO-treated rats showed significant alterations in electrocardiographic recordings, serum creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) level as well as oxidative stress and inflammatory biomarkers. Moreover, ISO administration resulted in endothelial dysfunction and significant histopathological damage. Pre-treatment with ATV aggravated ISO-induced cardiotoxicity. On the other hand, ATV post-treatment succeeded to significantly improve oxidative stress and inflammatory biomarkers, endothelial dysfunction and myocardial degeneration. These results suggest that ATV might produce a synergistic pro-oxidant effect if given before or along with another pro-oxidant (ISO). Thus, caution should be applied upon the use of statin as a prophylactic therapy for primary cardiovascular disease prevention.