EFFECTS OF ADMINISTRATION OF SIMVASTATIN ON THE THRESHOLD OF THERMAL PAIN TOLERANCE IN ADULT MALE RATS WITH HFD

Hajimashhadi, Zahra; Kooskbaghi, Mahboubeh; Sepehri, Hamid

doi:10.21608/bfsa.2021.174154

EFFECTS OF ADMINISTRATION OF SIMVASTATIN ON THE THRESHOLD OF THERMAL PAIN TOLERANCE IN ADULT MALE RATS WITH HFD

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran

² General Medical Student, Student Research Committee, Neuroscience Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran

³ Neuroscience Research Center, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran

10.21608/bfsa.2021.174154

Abstract

Background: Increased consumption of high-fat diets has become a global health problem. Obesity by result of various endocrine changes and release of inflammatory cytokines that may contribute to the pathogenesis of pain. Simvastatin is a statin that inhibits the 3-hydroxy-methyl-glutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase and has anti-inflammatory effects. The aim of the present study was to assess the antinociceptive activity of simvastatin following the use of high-fat diet in Male rats. Methods and materials: Forty adult male Wistar rats divided into six groups: control, high-fat diet, high-fat diet treated with 2 and 20 mg/Kg simvastatin and normal diet treated with 2 and 20 mg/kg simvastatin. Rats were maintained on a high-fat or normal diet for 45 days. Simvastatin was daily given through gavage from two weeks after starting of the study and continued for 30 days. Hot plate and blood biochemistry tests were performed to evaluate the threshold of thermal pain t tolerance. Results: Total cholesterol, LDL, and triglyceride, and body weight in the group that maintained a high fat diet was significantly higher compared with the other groups, especially the control group. But serum TNF-α and IL-6 were not found in a detectable production inall groups. High fat diet significantly reduced thermal pain reaction time. Simvastatin administration significantly decreased thermal hyperalgesia. Conclusion: The results indicate that simvastatin administration is a suitable way for reducing heat hyperalgesia following use of a high fat diet, but there is need to do further research.