Effects of rosuvastatin combined with fasudil therapy on rabbits with dyslipidemia

Abstract

Background: Present study was conducted to investigate the effects of rosuvastatin combined with fasudil on rabbits with dyslipidemia. Methods: Dyslipidemia model of rabbits were produced by prescribing atherogenic diet for 2 weeks. Thereafter, 40 rabbits with dyslipidemia were randomly and evenly divided into four groups as follow: untreated group (orally prescribed 3 ml of normal saline), rosuvastatin group (orally prescribed 3 mg/kg body weight daily, dissolved in 3 ml of normal saline), fasudil group (intravenously prescribed 0.5 mg/kg body weight daily, dissolved in 3 ml of normal saline), and combined group (the same doses of rosuvastatin and fasudil as aforementioned). At baseline, 2 weeks of dyslipidemia establishment and 2 weeks of medical therapy, fasting venous blood was drawn for laboratory examination. Results: After 2 weeks' atherogenic diet treatment, lipid disorders and impaired fasting glucose were observed. Systemic inflammation and oxidation were also promoted as revealed by increased serum levels of high sensitive C-reactive protein (Hs-CRP) and malondialdehyde (MDA). Notably, endothelial function has been impaired significantly as reflected by decreased nitric oxide (NO) production and increased serum asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) level. RhoA associated kinase (ROCK) activity was also profoundly enhanced (P∈ ∈0.05). These benefits were improved more prominently in combined group (P∈ ∈0.05). The improvements were more prominent in the combined groups (P∈