Abstract

To evaluate the detriments accompanying the inhibition of de novo cholesterol biosynthesis pathway using 3- hydroxy 3- methyl glutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors in addition to appraising the effect of progesterone restriction on normal pregnant rats. Thirty of 1^st day gestation rat females were submitted to the experiment, divided into two groups (15 rats each), control pregnant treated with deionized water and the other group treated with simvastatin (100 mg. kg^-1 BW. day^-1) for twenty days by oral intubation. Serum and tissue samples from liver, ovary and placenta were obtained at the days, 1^st, 15^th and 20^th of the treatment. Results of statistic indicated a significant (P≤0.01) decrease in the percentage of serum total cholesterol (58%), triglycerides (58%) and progesterone (60%) at the day 20^th of simvastatin treatment versus to control, at the same time glucose level and alkaline phosphatase activity elevation were obtained in simvastatin- treated group. Non of albumin, total protein levels and transaminase enzymes revealed significant alteration at the end of treatment. Total cholesterol of liver, ovary and placenta manifested a significant decrease (P≤0.01) (71%, 39%, 62% respectively) since 15^th day of treatment. In conclusion, the inhibition of cholesterol biosynthesis pathway during pregnancy suppresses the progesterone secretion and alter some biochemical parameters with depletion of cholesterol pool from tissues which may lead to an intense changes responsible for pregnancy failure.