Association between serum cholesterol, brain serotonin, and anxiety: A study in simvastatin administered experimental animals

Abstract

Introduction: The present research was designed to investigate the association between serum cholesterol, brain serotonin, and anxiety in simvastatin administered experimental animals. Materials and Methods: Both mice and rats were used for the study. Simvastatin (50 and 100 mg/kg in rats and 70 and 140 mg/kg in mice) was administered orally for one month. Serum cholesterol and brain serotonin levels were monitored. Two behavioral models, elevated plus maze test and mirrored chamber test were used to evaluate anxiety in the animals. Results: Simvastatin caused a significant reduction ( P Conclusion: Hence these experimental results have established the pharmacological evidence to the hypothesis for the relation between serum cholesterol, brain serotonin, and symptoms of anxiety and also confirm that long-term administration of lipophilic statins can lead to anxiety.