Lovastatin induces synthesis of cholesterol, which acts as a secretagogue of biliary phospholipids in rats.

The effects of treatment with lovastatin (LS), a hypocholesterolemic drug, on hepatic metabolism of cholesterol (CH) and phosphatidylcholine (PC) were studied in rats. Hepatic synthesis of CH was increased, as previously reported by our laboratory. Total plasma CH was increased, and biliary secretion of CH was raised fourfold, but biliary secretion of bile salts was not affected.