Pitavastatin Attenuates Leukocyte-Endothelial Interactions Induced by Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in the Rat Retina

Purpose: Statins (3-hydroxy-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors) have been shown to lower serum cholesterol levels in clinical use. Moreover, it has been reported that statins exert pleiotropic and beneficial effects on vascular endothelium. Therefore, we investigated the effects of pitavastatin, a new statin, on leukocyte accumulation during ischemia-reperfusion injury. Materials and Methods: Transient retinal ischemia was induced in Long-Evans rats for 60 min by temporal ligation of the optic nerve. Pitavastatin (0.12, 0.35, or 1.1 mg/kg) was administered 5 min prior to the induction of retinal ischemia. Leukocyte-endothelial interactions in the post-ischemic retina were evaluated in vivo with acridine orange digital fluorography. The number of rolling leukocytes, number of accumulated leukocytes, and diameters of the major retinal artery and vein were evaluated. Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) mRNA expression in the retina was semiquantitatively studied using the RT-PCR method. Re...