Effect of long-term lovastatin treatment on the number of glucocorticoid receptors in peripheral blood lymphocytes

A reduced number of3H-dexamethasone-specific binding sites (glucocorticoid receptors) in lymphocytes was observed after 2 months of lovastatin treatment against the background of a lowered serum level of cholesterol and triglycerides and a reduced rate of cholesterol synthesis in lymphocytes. This phenomenon is considered as an adaptive reaction of the cells to relative cholesterol depletion due to inhibition of its intracellular synthesis.