ABSTRACT
AIM:To establish a rat hyperlipidemia model for studying the aortic expression of heat shock protein 22 (HSP22), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and the effect of atorvasta-tin intervention.METHODS:Hyperlipidemia model was established in SD rats.Afterwards, the rats were divided into nor-mal control group, high fat group and high fat+atorvastatin intervention group.The expression of HSP22 and TNF-αin the rat aortas was detected by immunohistochemical assay and the expression of eNOS was assessed by Western blotting.RE-SULTS:No detectable expression of HSP22 and TNF-αin the normal control group was observed.However, the expression of HSP22 and TNF-αwas positive in the high fat group and the atorvastatin intervention group.The mean densities of HSP22 and TNF-αpositive particles were significant lower in the atorvastatin intervention group as compared with high fat group ( both P<0.05) .The expression of eNOS protein in the high fat group and atorvastatin intervention group was significantly lower than that in normal control group (P<0.01).However, no marked difference of eNOS protein expression between high fat group and atorvastatins intervention group was observed.CONCLUSION:The expression of HSP22 and TNF-αin the rat aortas is increased in the hyperlipidemia rat model.This effect can be restored by atorvastatin treatment.The expression of eNOS in the rat aortas is decreased in the hyperlipidemia rat model, but this tendency could not be attenuated by atorvastatin.