Effects of Atorvastatin and Streptozocin on Immunohistochemical Markers in Hippocampus of Male Adult Rats

In addition to the lipid lowering activity, statins act positively as a neuro-protective agent in some clinical cases such as Alzheimer’s disease, brain injury, ischemia and seizures. Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder representing the most common cause of dementia in the elderly population. Central STZ administration developed numerous behavioral, neurochemical and structural features that resembled those found in human Alzheimer’s disease. The results of the present study showed a significant increase in the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein in the groups of rats administered intrathecal injection of streptozocin when put side by side with the control one. A reduction in this marker observed in the group administered  20 mg/kg atorvastatin combined with a single intrathecal injection of streptozocin when compared to group taken streptozocin alone. Anti-oxidant state represented by glutathione reductase showed a significant increase in the expression of this marker in the groups that administered 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg atorvastatin after intrathecal injection of streptozocin in compared with the group administered streptozocin alone. However, a significant reduction in this marker observed in the group administered streptozocin alone when compared with control group. A significant increase in the neuronal nitric oxide synthase enzyme in the hippocampus of rats administered intrathecal injection of streptozocin. Also, a reduction in this marker observed in the groups treated with 10 and 20 mg/kg atorvastatin combined with a single intrathecal injection of streptozocin when put side by side with group taken streptozocin alone. We can conclude from the results that administration of streptozocin intrathecally lead to a model of Alzheimer’s disease indicated by brain damage that may be improved by atorvastatin treatment but in a dose dependent manner.