Effects of simvastatin on liver and plasma levels of cholesterol, dolichol and ubiquinol in hypercholesterolemic rats.

Increased levels of blood cholesterol are considered as a major factor in the development of atherosclerosis. Simvastatin, a drug which blocks hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGCoAR), reduces plasma cholesterol and increases HDL-cholesterol in rats fed a hypercholesterolemic diet. Moreover, simvastatin produces a significant decrease of ubiquinol and dolichol in plasma and in liver.