Physiological Impact of Statins Experimentally Revealed on Ants

Abstract

Statins are nowadays largely used for caring of persons suffering from hypercholesterolemia. Their use was recently debated. We studied the effects of simvastatin on ants as models. We observed that this product enlarged the insects' sugar food consumption, reduced their general activity, linear speed, orientation ability, trail following, audacity, tactile and pain perception, cognition, ability in escaping from an enclosure, visual and olfactory conditioning ability (thus their shortterm memory), and their middle term visual and olfactory memory. Simvastatin did not affect the ants' relationship with their nestmates. The ants developed adaptation to some adverse effects of simvastatine, and presented no habituation to beneficial effects. Also, simvastatine did not lead to dependence. Consequently, even if simvastatin is efficient in reducing the amount of cholesterol, and leads to some adaptation, no habituation and no addiction, it has several harmful effects. This drug should thus be used only in case of high necessity, never for children, and natural alternative with very few adverse effects should be advantageously researched.