Obesity; effect of high fat diet followed by atorvastatin administration onserum interleukin-6, white blood cell and platelet count in male and female spraguedawley rats

ABSTRACT

To study the effects of atorvastatin administration on serum IL-6, WBC and platelet count in obese male and female animal models. Randomized control trial [RCT]. The study was conducted at Department of Physiology, Army Medical College, Rawalpindi in collaboration with National Institute of Health [NIH], Islamabad and Centre for Research in Experimental and Applied Medicine [CREAM], Army Medical College, Rawalpindi for funding, blood sampling and biochemical assays respectively. Ninety healthy male and female Sprague Dawley rats were selected and randomly divided into three equal groups. Group I rats were fed normal diet for a period of three weeks. Group II rats were fed high fat diet for a period of three weeks to induce obesity. Group III rats were administered atorvastatin 10 mg/kg/day orally by gavage method for three weeks after obesity induction. Terminal sampling by intra-cardiac puncture was done at the end of study. Whole blood was used to perform blood complete picture by KX 21 Sysmex Hematology Analyzer which includes platelet count and WBC count and serum was used to measure IL-6 levels by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbant Assay [ELISA]. There was a significant decrease [p<0.05] in serum IL-6 levels and WBC count, whereas platelet count was not significantly [p>0.05] affected by atorvastatin administration. Although atorvastatin reduces obesity related inflammation by decreasing serum IL-6 levels and WBC count, it has no effect on platelet count in male and female obese animal models