OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effects of using simvastatin (SV) on the medullary area occupied by adipocytes (MAOA) in the femoral head of rats with lipidic hypertrophy induced by hydrocortisone (HC). METHODS: 40 male Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus albinos) were distributed into five groups, each group with eight animals, according to the medication given daily during 15 days: HC (25 mg), HC (25 mg) + SB, HC (1 mg), HC (1 mg) + SV, and saline solution (SF). Serum triglyceride (TRI), total cholesterol (COL), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) tests were performed before and after treatment. Femoral head MAOA was determined by morphometry. RESULTS: the groups had similar results of serum values of TRI, COL, AST, and ALT in the beginning of the experiment. The animals that received HC had greater MAOA when compared to those receiving SF (p < 0.0001), with statistically significant increases in the serum TRI and COL readings. MAOA was greater in the groups receiving HC than in the groups receiving JC + SV (p < 0.0001). In the group that received HC (1 mg) + SV, there was no significant difference in MAOA, when compared to the group that received SF (p = 0.5047), nor in the serum values of TRI (p = 0.1907) and COL (p = 0.4480), after the treatment. In the animals that received HC (25 mg) + SV, there was a significant difference in MAOA, when compared to the group that received SF (p < 0.0001), and in the serum readings of TRI (p = 0.0044) and COL (p = 0.0025), after the treatment. All groups presented increased serum levels of AST and ALT. The use of HC was related to a larger area occupied by adipocytes in the medulla of the femoral head, which was directly proportional to the dose given. This effect was reduced with the use of simvastatin. CONCLUSION: The use of simvastatin to reduce the bone medulla lipidic content induced by HC was significant, and more consistent in the group treated with low HC doses.
Adrenal cortex hormones; Simvastatin; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase inhibitors; Bone marrow
