Gastroprotective Potential Effects of Statins on Indomethacin-Induced Gastric Ulcers in Rats

Abstract

Statins (3-hydroxy-3-methyl glutaryl-CO A reductase inhibitors) exert favorable effects on lipoprotein metabolism but may, also, possess antioxidant and antisecretory effects which have led to the interest in the use of that class of drugs outside treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Here, the effects of atorvastatin in experimently induced gastric acid secretion and ulcer formation and the mechanisms underlying that protection in rats were explored. Animals were randomly assigned to three experimental groups (control, indomethacin, and indomethacin+atorvastatin groups). Pyloric ligation was performed for collection of gastric juice, and gastric ulceration was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of indomethacin (40mg/kg).The following parameters were assayed (volume of gastric secretion and acidity, the level of mucus, and proteolytic activity in gastric juice; lipid peroxides (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), and prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2 ) in gastric mucosa). Pretreatment with atorvastatin (10 mg/kg orally for 7 days) caused significant reduction in gastric mucosal lesions, MDA and gastric acid secretion associated with significant increase in gastric juice mucin secretion. Also, atorvastatin significantly increased gastric NO and PGE 2 levels. These data illustrate the gastroprotective effects of atorvastatin which may be mediated by its anti-oxidant and anti-secretory properties.