Efecto antiaterogénico de la atorvastatina en pollos alimentados con una dieta rica en colesterol

Abstract

Background Experimental model of chickens for atherosclerosis has been poorly used. Objective To demonstrate the antiatherogenic effect of atorvastatin (3 mg/kg/day) on an experimental model of chickens fed with a cholesterol-rich diet. Methods Eighteen white 15 days-old Leghorn chickens were randomly allocated to one of three groups: a) control group, fed with a normal diet; b) atherogenic control group, fed with an egg rich diet, and c) atherogenic group treated with 3 mg/kg/day of atorvastatin. Eight weeks after, all the animals were sacrificed, blood samples being previously drawn to perform biological analysis. The thoracic and abdominal aorta was dissected to quantify by planimetry, after staining it with Sudan III, the extension and development of the atherosclerotic plaque, comparing the results of each group. Results In the group treated with atorvastatin, the levels (mean ± standard deviation) of LDL cholesterol were significantly lower than in the atherogenic control group (159.6 ± 69.5 vs. 291.0 ± 144.1 mg/dl; p < 0.05). Similar differences were observed in the levels of non-HDL cholesterol (163.8 ± 70.1 vs. 295.2 ± 144.5 mg/dl; p < 0.05) and in the percentage of the aortic area affected by the plaque (6.0 ± 4.9% vs. 18.7 ± 3.2%; p < 0.01). The remainder parameters did not show significant differences among the groups. Conclusions In the present experimental model, atorvastatin significantly decreased the concentrations of LDL and non-HDL cholesterol about 45% and reduced the development of aortic arteriosclerosis by 67%.