Beneficial Effects of Rosuvastatin in Heart of C57Bl/6 Mice with Diet- Induced Metabolic Syndrome - A Preliminary Study

Background: There is a significant association between the prevalence of cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome. Evidence shows that obesity is associated with structural and functional changes in the heart. Estatin drugs can reduce the endogenous synthesis of cholesterol and possess properties that are independent of their effects on lipids, the so-called pleiotropic effects. The present work aims to study the effects of rosuvastatin on the heart of mice with diet-induced metabolic syndrome, such as tissue remodeling and ultrastructural changes. Methods: In this work we studied the effects of rosuvastatin treatment on the body mass, blood lipids, blood pressure, cardiac remodeling and structure, as well as the ultrastructural changes on the heart of the C57BL/6 male mice fed with a high-fat diet. Results: The rosuvastatin treatment reduced levels of blood lipids, blood pressure and body mass of high-fat mice. Furthermore, the cardiac remodeling was attenuated, with a decrease of the interstitial and perivascular fibrosis and the preservation of the integrity of mitochondrial morphology. Conclusion: Thus, our work concludes that rosuvastatin has a beneficial effect on the heart of C57Bl/6 mice fed high fat diet being an important tool in the treatment and/or on the prevention of heart disease.