Degeneration of pyramidal cells of CA1, CA2, and CA3 are of the hippocampus in male rats under the influence of simvastatin

Abstract Background: Simvastatin is a lipophilic statin and can cross the blood-brain barrier. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of simvastatin on pyramidal cells in CA1, CA2, and CA3 regions of the hippocampus in healthy male rats. Method: For the experiment, 36 male Wistar rats with an average weight of 300-250 g were divided into six groups of six (each group comprised six heads). Groups: 1): Control group, 2): Vitamin D dose 5 µg / kg, 3): Simvastatin group dose 1 mg / kg, 4): Simvastatin group dose 10 mg / kg, 5): Simvastatin group dose 1 mg / kg + vitamin D dose 5 µg / kg, 6): Simvastatin group dose 10 mg / kg + vitamin D dose 5 µg / kg. The duration of drug use was 28 days. At the end of the drug administration period, the animals were slaughtered, then blood samples were taken from the animals (to check TC[1] and LDL-C[2]) and finally the brain tissue of the animals was extracted to prepare microscopic sections. Results: Statistical results of total cholesterol and LDL-C in rat serum showed that the groups receiving simvastatin 10 mg / kg and simvastatin 10 mg / kg with vitamin D supplement 5 µg / kg were significantly different compared to the control group (P <0.05).Statistical results showed a significant increase (P <0.05) in degenerated cells in the groups receiving simvastatin 10 mg / kg and simvastatin 10 mg / kg with vitamin D supplementation compared with the control group in CA1 and CA2 regions. The statistical results of the study of the percentage of The statistical results of the study of the percentage of degenerative cells in CA3 region CA3 of the hippocampus showed that all groups except vitamin D group had a significant difference (P <0.50) in the percentage of degenerative cells in this region compared to the control group. Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that simvastatin, due to its lipophilic nature, easily crosses the blood-brain barrier and reduces cholesterol in the brain, thus causing the degeneration of pyramidal cells in the hippocampus.