SIMVASTATIN INHIBITS THE DIVISION AND INDUCES NEURITE-LIKE OUTGROWTH IN PC12 CELLS

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.