Effect of simvastatin on expression of VEGF and TGF-β1 in atherosclerotic animal model of type�2 diabetes mellitus

Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) in atherosclerosis animal model of type 2 diabetes mellitus treated with simvastatin was investigated. Clean grade mature Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were divided into three groups: Normal control (n=10), model (n=13) and treatment group (n=13); low-dose simvastatin was administered. The changes of VEGF and TGF-β1 levels were analyzed by tail vein blood sampling. The relationship between levels of VEGF, TGF-β1 and treatment time was analyzed. The expression level of VEGF in the treatment group after 4 and 8 weeks of intervention was lower compared with the model group (P