Simvastatin has deleterious effects on human first trimester placental cells

This study was published in Human Reproduction 2005 Oct;20(10):2866-72

Study title and authors:
Simvastatin has deleterious effects on human first trimester placental explants.

Kenis I, Tartakover-Matalon S, Cherepnin N, Drucker L, Fishman A, Pomeranz M, Lishner M.
Oncogenetic Laboratory, Department of Internal Medicine A, Sapir Medical Center, Kfar-Saba, Israel.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15958395

A group led by Dr Irina Kenis explored the effects of statins on the placenta. The study compared cultured human first trimester placental cells exposed to small doses of simvastatin with cells not exposed to simvastatin.

The study found:
(a) Compared with unexposed cells, simvastatin sharply inhibited the migration of extravillous trophoblast cells. (The migration of extravillous trophoblast cells into the uterus is a vital stage in the establishment of pregnancy).
(b) Compared with unexposed cells, simvastatin inhibited the formation of trophoblast cells.
(c) Compared with unexposed cells, simvastatin led to more cell death in the trophoblast cells.
(d) Progesterone levels were significantly reduced in the simvastatin-treated cells in comparison with unexposed cells. (Progesterone keeps the placenta functioning properly and the uterine lining healthy and thick).
(e) Human chorionic gonadotropin levels were reduced in the simvastatin-treated cells in comparison with unexposed cells. (Human chorionic gonadotropin is a hormone produced during pregnancy and should almost double every 48 hours in the beginning of a pregnancy. Human chorionic gonadotropin levels that do not rise appropriately may indicate a problem with the pregnancy).

Dr Kenis concludes: "Simvastatin adversely affects human first trimester trophoblast. These effects may contribute to failure of the implantation process and be deleterious to the growth potential of the placenta".