TY - JOUR JO - Archives of Medical Science SN - 1734-1922 VL - 8 IS - 1 PY - 2012 ID - Owczarek2012 TI - Basic researchEffects of 4-week administration of simvastatin in different doses on heart rate and blood pressure after metoprolol injection in normocholesterolaemic and normotensive rats AB - Introduction : Statins and β1-adrenergic antagonists are well established in cardiovascular events therapy and prevention. The previous study showed that statins might impact on β-adrenergic signalling and blood pressure in a dose-dependent manner. The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of 4-week administration of simvastatin given at different doses on the heart rate and blood pressure after injection of metoprolol in rats. Material and methods : The experiments were performed in normocholesterolaemic and normotensive Wistar rats. Rats received simvastatin in doses of 1, 10 and 20 mg/kg body weight (bw) for 4 weeks. The control group received 0.2% methylcellulose. For the further estimation of the heart rate and blood pressure, metoprolol at 5 mg/kg bw or 0.9% NaCl was injected intraperitoneally. Results : Simvastatin at doses of 1, 10 and 20 mg/kg bw did not influence the heart rate or blood pressure as compared to the control group. Metoprolol injection statistically significantly decreased the heart rate (439.29 ±14.03 min –1 vs. 374.41 ±13.32 min –1 ; p < 0.05). In rats receiving simvastatin during the 4-week period after metoprolol injection, heart rate and blood pressure (mean, systolic, diastolic) were similar as compared to the group receiving metoprolol alone. Conclusions : Simvastatin administration during a 4-week period in different doses did not influence the heart rate or blood pressure after metoprolol injection in normocholesterolaemic and normotensive rats. AU - Owczarek, Jacek AU - Jasińska, Magdalena AU - Wejman, Irena AU - Kurczewska, Urszula AU - Orszulak-Michalak, Daria SP - 17 EP - 21 DA - 2012 DO - 10.5114/aoms.2012.27275 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.5114/aoms.2012.27275 ER -