Atorvastatin ameliorated myocardial fibrosis in db/db mice by inhibiting oxidative stress and modulating macrophage polarization

Figure 5 Levels of superoxide dismutase activity and malondialdehyde content and immunofluorescence staining of macrophages. A and B: SOD activity was decreased and MDA content was significantly increased in db/db mice that received daily oral gavage of sterilized water (DM group). db/db mice that received daily oral gavage of 10 mg/kg/d atorvastatin (DM + ATO) or 200 mg/kg metformin (DM + MET) group had markedly decreased MDA content and enhanced SOD activity; C and E: Compared with C57BL/6 mice (CON group), iNOS⁺ in the DM group were markedly increased, and the DM + ATO group had reduced the expression of M1 macrophages. The DM + MET group showed no effects on expression of M1 macrophages in the myocardium of db/db mice; D and F: Compared with the CON group, CD206⁺ in the DM group were markedly decreased, and the DM + ATO and DM + MET groups had increased expression of M2 macrophages in the myocardium. Data represent the means ± SD (n = 5). ^aP < 0.05 compared with db/db mice received daily oral gavage of sterilized water group. ^bP < 0.05 compared with C57BL/6 mice. iNOS: Inducible nitric oxide synthase; MDA: Malondialdehyde; SOD: Superoxide dismutase; DM: db/db mice received daily oral gavage of sterilized water; DM + ATO: db/db mice received daily oral gavage of 10 mg/kg/d atorvastatin; DM + MET: db/db mice received daily oral gavage of 200 mg/kg metformin; CON: C57BL/6 mice.