FIG. 6.

Effects of statins on vascular Rac1 activation in SVGs in vivo and ex vivo. Three-day preoperative administration of atorvastatin (40 mg/day) in patients undergoing bypass surgery significantly reduced resting (A) and NADPH-stimulated O₂⁻ generation (B), as well as activation of Rac1 (C) versus the placebo arm in the vascular wall of SV grafts obtained from these patients. Similarly, exposure of human SV segments to increasing concentrations of atorvastatin ex vivo led to a dose-dependent reduction in NADPH-stimulated O₂⁻ generation (D), which was associated with a reduction in Rac1 activation (E) and subsequent translocation to the membrane (F). (*p<0.05 vs. no atorvastatin). Adapted from Ref. (6). SVG, saphenous vein graft.