[The effect of simvastatin on the expression of high mobility group box-1 protein in atherosclerotic rats].

Objective: To observe the effect of simvastatin on the expression of high mobility group box-1 protein (HMGB1) and morphology of atherosclerotic plaques in atherosclerotic rats, to ascertain whether HMGB1 plays a role in the preventive mechanism of simvastatin from atherosclerosis (AS).

Methods: Sixty Wistar rats were divided randomly into three groups: control group, model group and simvastatin treatment group. Gastric gavage of vitamin D3 with high fat food was used to reproduce atherosclerotic rat model.