Rosuvastatin Decreases Caveolin-1 and Improves Nitric Oxide–Dependent Heart Rate and Blood Pressure Variability in Apolipoprotein E−/− Mice In Vivo

Background—Decreased heart rate variability (HRV) and increased blood pressure variability (BPV), determined in part by nitric oxide (NO)–dependent endothelial dysfunction, are correlated with adverse prognosis in cardiovascular diseases. We examined potential alterations in BPV and HRV in genetically dyslipidemic, apolipoprotein (apo) E−/−, and control mice and the effect of chronic statin treatment on these parameters in relation to their NO synthase (NOS)–modifying properties. Methods and Results—BP and HR were recorded in unrestrained, nonanesthetized mice with implanted telemetry devices with or without rosuvastatin. Cardiac and aortic expression of endothelial NOS and caveolin-1 were measured by immunoblotting. Both systolic BP and HR were elevated in apoE−/− mice, with abolition of their circadian cycles. Spectral analysis showed an increase in their systolic BPV in the very-low-frequency (+17%) band and a decrease in HRV in the high-frequency (−57%) band, reflecting neurohumoral and autonomic dysfunction. Decreased sensitivity to acute injection of atropine or an NOS inhibitor indicated basal alterations in both parasympathetic and NOS regulatory systems in apoE−/− mice. Aortic caveolin-1 protein, an inhibitor of endothelial NOS, was also increased in these mice by 2.0-fold and correlated positively with systolic BPV in the very-low-frequency band. Rosuvastatin treatment corrected the hemodynamic and caveolin-1 expression changes despite persisting elevated plasma cholesterol levels. Conclusions—Rosuvastatin decreases caveolin-1 expression and promotes NOS function in apoE−/−, dyslipidemic mice in vivo, with concurrent improvements in BPV and HRV. This highlights the beneficial effects of rosuvastatin on cardiovascular function beyond those attributed to lipid lowering.