Pleiotropic effects of rosuvastatin on the glucose metabolism and the subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue behavior in C57Bl/6 mice.

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether rosuvastatin (HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor) modulates the carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and the increase in body mass in a model of diet-induced obesity. Male C57Bl/6 mice (3-months-old) were fed a high-fat diet (HF, 60% lipids) or the standard chow (SC, 10% lipids) for 15 weeks. The animals were then treated with 10 mg/kg/day (HF-R10 group), 20 mg/kg/day (HF-R20), or 40 mg/kg/day (HF-R40) of rosuvastatin for five weeks. The HF diet led to glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, weight gain, increased visceral adiposity with adipocyte hypertrophy, and hepatic steatosis (micro and macrovesicular). The rosuvastatin treatment decreased the adiposity and the adipocyte size in the HF-R10 and HF-R20 groups. In addition, rosuvastatin changed the pattern of fat distribution in the HF-R40 group because more fat was stored subcutaneously than in visceral depots. This redistribution improved the fasting glucose and the glucose intolerance. Rosuvastatin also improved the liver morphology and ultrastructure in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, rosuvastatin exerts pleiotropic effects through a dose-dependent improvement of glucose intolerance, insulin sensitivity and NAFLD and changes the fat distribution from visceral to subcutaneous fat depots in a mouse model of diet-induced obesity.

Evaluation of therapeutic intervention with a natural product in cutaneous wound healing: the use of capybara oil.

Capybara oil is commonly used for cutaneous wound healing in traditional South American medicine, although its beneficial effect has never been experimentally proven. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the topical application of capybara oil on skin wounds in Swiss mice. The following characteristics of the wounds were observed and evaluated: wound contraction and reepithelialization, the number of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and mast cells, the thickness of the neoepidermis, and the distribution of collagen and elastic fibers. Our study showed that oil extracted from subcutaneous capybara fat was beneficial for wound healing, indicating that capybara oil plays an important role in promoting tissue repair.

The microfibril-elastin fiber system distribution in left atrioventricular valve of the rat / Distribución del sistema de microfibrillas y fibras de elastina en la valva atrioventricular izquierda de la rata

The microfibril-elastin fiber system, an important constituent of the extracellular matrix, was studied in the rat left atrioventricular valve to investigate the interrelationship of oxytalan, elaunin and elastic fibers in left atrioventricular valve morphology. The elastin fibers forms continuous bundles observed along the length of the valve in atrial and ventricular layers and oriented parallel to endothelium. The elaunin and oxytalan fibers are distributed in the thickest fiber bundles along the length of the valve. The thinner fibers which radiated towards both the atrial and spongiosa layers, either as isolated or arborescent fiber bundles were identified as oxytalan fibers. With transmission electron microscopy elastic fibers were seen mainly in the atrial layer. The spongiosa layer was composed of elaunin and oxytalan fibers and ventricular layer showed elaunin fibers arranged in continuous bundles parallel to the endothelium. Both fibrillin and elastin were seen and identified by immunocytochemistry with colloidal gold in the left atrioventricular valve spongiosa and atrial layers. These observations allow us to suggest that the microfibril-elastin fiber system plays a role in the mechanical protection and maintenance of the integrity of the rat left atrioventricular valve.

Fue estudiado el sistema de fibras microfibrillas-elastina, un componente importante de la matriz extracelular, en la valva atrioventricular izquierda de rata, con la finalidad de investigar la interrelación de oxitalán, elaunin y fibras elásticas en la morfología de dicha valva. Las fibras de elastina forman paquetes continuos a lo largo de la valva en las capas atriales y ventriculares, orientadas paralelamente al endotelio. Las fibras de elaunin y oxitalán se distribuyen en haces de fibras más gruesas a lo largo de la valva. Las fibras más delgadas, las cuales se irradiaban hacia las capas atrial y esponjosa, ya sea como haces de fibras aisladas o arborescentes, fueron identificadas como fibras oxitalán. En la capa atrial a través de microscopía electrónica de transmisión se observaron principalmente fibras elásticas. La capa esponjosa estaba compuesta por fibras de elaunin y oxitalán; la capa ventricular mostró fibras de elaunin dispuestas en haces continuos paralelos al endotelio. Tanto fibrilina y elastina se observaron e identificaron por inmunocitoquímica con oro coloidal en las capas esponjosa y atrial de la valva atrioventricular izquierda. Estas observaciones nos permiten sugerir que el sistema de fibras de elastina-microfibrillas tienen participación en la protección mecánica y la mantención de la integridad de la valva atrioventricular izquierda en la rata.

Beneficial effects of rosuvastatin on aortic adverse remodeling in nitric oxide-deficient rats.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of rosuvastatin upon structural and ultrastructural aortic remodeling in a rat model of hypertension induced by NO synthase blockade. Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups: Control group (C); control treated with rosuvastatin 20mg/kg/day (CR); L-NAME group 40 mg/kg/day (LN) and L-NAME treated with rosuvastatin (LNR) (same doses). Body mass and blood pressure were measured weekly; the experiment lasted 5 weeks. L-NAME administration augmented blood pressure (BP) in the LN group in comparison to the C group (123.3 vs. 180.5 mm Hg at week 5). In LNR rats, rosuvastatin slightly attenuated BP rise, but it had no effect on the BP of CR group. Intima and media thickening of the thoracic aorta were observed in the LN group, and increased elastic fiber content as well. Rosuvastatin prevented all these alterations as seen in the LNR group. Ultrastructural changes due to L-NAME intake (intracellular vesicles and altered membrane morphology in endothelial cells, extracellular matrix deposition, and cytoplasmatic projections from smooth muscle cells toward the internal elastic lamina) were also prevented by rosuvastatin. All in all, rosuvastatin administration is capable of attenuating ultrastructural aortic wall remodeling in NO-deficient rats despite small changes in blood pressure.