Introduction: Atorvastatin was chosen for this model because its elimination half-life is nearly 14 hours, property that stimulates drug's efficacy for lowering LDL compared with other Statins. Furthermore, it is given in an active form that prolongs its effect on HMG-C0A reductase. Therefore muscle impairment was intensified by Atorvastatin. C0-Q10 acts as free radical scavenger in skeletal muscle mitochondria. Vitamin D is strong antioxidant which maintains stable activities of mitochondria .
Aim of the Work: This work aimed to study changes in rat's skeletal muscle with atorvastatin administration and prophylactic role of coenzyme Q10 and vitamin D.
Material and methods: Fifty adult male albino rats were separated into five equal groups. Control group, Statin group , rats were received Atorvastatin at a dose 50 mg/kg/day , liquefied in distilled water and given by gastric tube for 4 weeks. Statin & Coenzyme Q10 treated group at which rats received Coenzyme Q10 at dosage of 3 mg/kg b.wt. during the period of Statin treatment. Statin &Vit D treated group , rats were treated with statin like that of group II and given Vit D orally at dosage of 0.5μg/kg/day and Withdrawal group at which rats retained for one month without treatment after 4 weeks of statin treatment. Skeletal muscle tissue was examined for histopathological and immunohistochemical changes.
Results: group treated with Atorvastatin revealed degenerated and disorganized muscle fibers. Also numerous collagen fibers were present within the CT septa in the masson & Van Gieson stained muscle sections. Strong KI-67 immunoreactivity and weak Desmin and Myogenin immuno expression. Coenzyme Q10 and vit D decreases the effect of statins on skeletal muscle tissue, but Coenzyme Q10 shown a significant diminution in collagen fibers deposition, KI-67 immunoreactivity and significant increase in Desmin & Myogenin immuno expression compared with that in Statin treated group.
Conclusion: Intake of Vitamin D during the period of Statin treatment have a protecting effect against statin induced myopathy. Meanwhile the consumption of Coenzyme Q10 has a more protection