The Amplex red assay of HDL function can detect established effect of statins on functional properties of HDL in animal models of atherosclerosis.

A: By using FPLC, HDL was isolated from three pooled plasma samples from LDLR^−/− mice on Western diet (LDLR^−/− WD) for two weeks and from three pooled plasma samples from LDLR^−/− mice on Western diet for two weeks that were also treated with pravastatin 12.5 µg/ml for two weeks. Each plasma sample was pooled from 4 mice (12 mice in total). Oxidation of Amplex Red was assessed as in Figure 2, using 2.5 µg (cholesterol) of added HDL. The oxidation slope of Amplex Red in the presence of HDL from LDLR^−/− WD + statin was normalized to the oxidation slope of Amplex Red in the presence of HDL from LDLR^−/− WD, and the percent relative differences are shown. The data represent the average of measurements from three independent experiments. There was a statistically significant reduction in the oxidation slope of Amplex Red in the presence of HDL isolated from LDLR^−/− WD + statin mice compared with the oxidation slope of DHR in the presence of HDL isolated from LDLR^−/− WD mice (** P = 0.01) B: By using FPLC, HDL was isolated from three pooled plasma samples from ApoE^−/− female mice on Western diet (ApoE^−/− WD) for two weeks and from three pooled plasma samples from ApoE^−/− female mice on Western diet for two weeks that were also treated with pravastatin 12.5 µg/ml for two weeks. Each plasma sample was pooled from 4 mice (12 mice in total). Oxidation of Amplex Red was assessed as in A. There was a statistically significant reduction in the oxidation slope of Amplex Red in the presence of HDL isolated from ApoE^−/− WD + statin mice compared with the oxidation slope of Amplex Red in the presence of HDL isolated from ApoE^−/− WD mice (** P = 0.01).