Fig. 3.

Atorvastatin treatment reduced the ability of cocaine to inhibit DA uptake and cholesterol replenishment ameliorated the deficit. Cells were treated with atorvastatin (Ator, 1 μM, 24 hr), pre-incubated with increasing concentrations of cocaine (100 nM − 10 μM) for 10 min, and then 15 nM [³H]DA uptake was conducted. Some cells treated with atorvastatin were incubated with vehicle or water-soluble cholesterol (250 μM, 2 hr, 37°C) followed by cocaine inhibition of [³H]DA uptake assay. (A) Atorvastatin treatment shifted the cocaine concentration-response curve to the right and water-soluble cholesterol replenishment prevented the shift. (B) The IC₅₀ values for cocaine inhibition in cells treated with vehicle, atorvastatin (Ator), and Ator+Chol. **p<0.01, ***p<0.001 vs. vehicle