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Background— Decreased heart rate variability (HRV) and increased blood pressure variability (BPV), determined in part by nitric oxide (NO)–dependent endothelial dysfunction, are correlated with adverse prognosis in cardiovascular diseases. We examined potential alterations in BPV and HRV in genetically dyslipidemic, apolipoprotein (apo) E^−/−, and control mice and the effect of chronic statin treatment on these parameters in relation to their NO synthase (NOS)–modifying properties.

Methods and Results— BP and HR were recorded in unrestrained, nonanesthetized mice with implanted telemetry devices with or without rosuvastatin. Cardiac and aortic expression of endothelial NOS and caveolin-1 were measured by immunoblotting. Both systolic BP and HR were elevated in apoE^−/− mice, with abolition of their circadian cycles. Spectral analysis showed an increase in their systolic BPV in the very-low …