An HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (IC50 5 nM) inhibits cholesterol synthesis in isolated rat hepatocytes (IC50 0 16 nM) reduces plasma total cholesterol triglyceride LDL-C and oxidized LDL-C levels in Ldlr-/- mice fed a high-fat diet at 10 mg/kg decreases the area of aortic atherosclerotic lesions in the same model