Effects of simvastatin on serum lipids and atherosclerosis in WHHL rabbits

Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic rabbits aged three months (young group) or 10 months (adult group) received 10 mg/kg of simvastatin daily for 24 weeks. Serum levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, and beta-lipoproteins were reduced significantly in the treated animals but not in untreated controls. The decreases were greater in the young than in the adult animals. Levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were not affected by treatment. At 24 weeks, the extent of atheromatous lesions on the thoracic-abdominal aorta was lower in the treated animals than in the controls, but the difference was significant only in the young animals. The results indicate that simvastatin would be effective in the treatment of atherosclerosis.