Effect of atorvastatin on hyperglycemia-induced brain oxidative stress and neuropathy induced by diabetes

Background and Aim: Based on recent studies, atorvastatin has some pleiotropic actions such as anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects independent of lipid lowering effects. Regarding the critical role of oxidative stress and inflammation in inducing diabetic neuropathy, the current study aimed at examining the neuroprotective and anti-oxidative stress effects of atorvastatin atthe brain tissues in diabetes experimental models. Materials and Methods: Twenty-four male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 equal groups . including normal, normal treated, diabetic and diabetic treated. The diabetic group were made diabetic by an intravenous injection of streptozotocin (40mg/kg) and the treated group received 40mg/kg/day atorvastatin for 8weeks. At the end of the experiment, blood samples from the subjects were derived to measure their blood glucose and urea. Finally, the rats were killed under deep anesthesia and their brains were removed in order to measure malondialdehyde (MDA) and to make histopathological assessment. Results: Uncontrolled hyperglycemia (blood glucose >450 mg/dl) significantly increased blood urea in the diabetic group (130±10 mg/dl) compared with the normal group (58±7 mg/dl), (P