I. Satosuzuki et S. Murota, SIMVASTATIN INHIBITS THE DIVISION AND INDUCES NEURITE-LIKE OUTGROWTH IN PC12 CELLS, Neuroscience letters, 220(1), 1996, pp. 21-24
Simvastatin, a potent 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA)
reductase inhibitor, inhibited cell division in a dose dependent fashi
on and induced neurite-like outgrowth in PC12 cells. The neurite-like
outgrowth was detectable at 0.5 mu g/ml of simvastatin 24 h after the
treatment. The responses to simvastatin were completely prevented by i
ncubating the cells with mevalonate. In contrast to simvastatin, prava
statin. a similar HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor but lipophobic, had no e
ffect oil the cells. The results provide new possibilities for the cen
tral nervous system (CNS) Side effects of simvastatin therapy. Copyrig
ht (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.