Authors : Eman Saad Mohamed, Mervat Ahmed Aly and Amal Elawady Ebrahim
Abstract: Atorvastatin is a member of drugs known as statins that responsible for lowering lipids to prevent cardiovascular disease. The purpose of this study is to determine potential cataractogenic action of atorvastatin in rats. Almost 75 healthy albino Wistar rats were classified into four groups: Group 1 served as control, Group 2 were animals received hypercholesterolemic diet, Group 3 and 4 that animals received hypercholesterolemic diet with atorvastatin in two doses 1.14 and 11.4 mg/kg/day, respectively. Activity of Na+-K+ ATPase was measured in lens membrane. Soluble lens proteins and Refractive Index (RI) were detected. In addition Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate-Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) was done for all the studied groups. A significant decrease (p<0.05) were observed in activity of Na+-K+ ATPase in lens membrane and soluble lens proteins of group 4 that received a high dose of atorvastatin in contrast to all others groups. There were remarkable shifts in molecular weight of all protein fractions detected in pattern of SDS-PAGE come with atorvastatin administrated (Group 4). Also, the same phenomena in appearing no variation in its value of RI to Group 2 or 3 and a significant difference (increase, p<0.05) observed in Group 4. Lens turned out to be reacted to atorvastatin, especially, high doses administrated.
Eman Saad Mohamed, Mervat Ahmed Aly and Amal Elawady Ebrahim, 2018. The Possible Link Between Atorvastatin and Cataract inRats: An Experimental Study. Research Journal of Medical Sciences, 12: 35-40.