EFFECT OF OBESITY AND STATIN;

NEWLY EMERGING CARDIOVASCULAR RISK FACTOR; MEAN PLATELET VOLUME IN MALE AND FEMALE SPRAGUE DAWLEY RATS.

Abstract

Objectives: To observe the effect of obesity and subsequent atorvastatin
administration on MPV in high fat diet induced obese male and female Sprague Dawley rats.
Study Design: Randomized control trial (RCT). Setting: Department of Physiology, Army Medical
College, Rawalpindi. Animal procurement and blood sampling was done at National Institute
of Health (NIH), Islamabad and biochemical assays were performed at Centre for Research in
Experimental and Applied Medicine (CREAM), Army Medical College, Rawalpindi. Period: The
study was completed in 12 months. Material and Methods: Ninety healthy Sprague Dawley
(male and female) rats were purchased and divided randomly into three equal groups. Rats
in normal control group (Group I) were given normal chow diet for three weeks. Rats in obese
control group (Group II) were given high fat diet for three weeks. Rats in obese treated group
(Group III) were administered atorvastatin for three weeks in a dose of 10 mg/kg/day orally by
gavage method after obesity induction. Terminal sampling was done at the end of the study
by intra-cardiac puncture. MPV is a part of blood complete picture that was analysed by KX 21
Sysmex Hematology Analyzer. Results: High fat diet induced obesity resulted in a significant
(p < 0.05) increase in MPV. The MPV was significantly (p < 0.05) decreased after atorvastatin
administration. The result was comparable for both genders. Conclusions: Obesity increases
MPV and hence the risk of adverse cardiovascular outcome. Atorvastatin apart from its known
lipid lowering effect, decreases MPV and can play a beneficial role in decreasing cardiovascular
morbidity and mortality.