Rosuvastatin ameliorates anxiety but impairs skeletal muscle performance by malondialdehyde and calcium depletion in high fat diet-fed swiss albino mice

Abstract

Background: The high intake of high calorie, high fat diets (HFD) with an associated
sedentary lifestyle has been linked with a number of neurobehavioral and neuromuscular
disorders. This study aimed at investigating the effect of a lipid lowering drug -
Rosuvastatin (ROS) on anxiety-like behavior and muscle strength in HFD-fed mice.
Methods: The animals were grouped into four (n=5); Group 1 (normal chow and water ad
libitum); Group 2 (HFD ad libitum); Group 3 (HFD + ROS); Group 4 (HFD for 5 weeks
then ROS for 1 week). Thereafter, mice were subjected to elevated plus maze (EPM) test
and wire hanging test (WHT). Animals were then killed and brain samples homogenized
and assayed for neurotransmitters and antioxidants. The blood samples were assayed for
calcium, uric acid and Malondialdehyde (MDA).
Results: The HFD significantly (p<0.05) heightened anxiety in the mice which was
ameliorated by ROS. Muscle strength was however decreased with ROS. Brain levels of
dopamine and serotonin were not significantly affected (p<0.05) by ROS likewise
superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Catalase. Serum calcium and MDA were significantly
reduced by ROS.
Conclusions: High fat diet induced anxiety in the animals and improved muscle endurance
on exertion. Rosuvastatin ameliorated the anxiety but reduced muscle strength and the
proposed mechanism is suppression of MDA and Calcium functions respectively