Objective To investigate the effect of lovastatin on rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs) apoptosis induced by hypoxia and serum deprivation(Hypoxia/SD) in vitro,focusing in particular on regulation of mitochondrial apoptotic pathway,and to find the useful therapeutic methods to increase transplanted MSCs survival.Methods MSCs were isolated from bone marrow of Sprague-Dawley rats.The anti-apoptotic effects of lovastatin were detected using Hoechst33342 and Annexin V-FITC/PI binding assay by flow cytometric analysis.The cytochrome C and the activation of caspase-3 were detected by Western blot.Results Lovastatin(0.01-1μmol/L)remarkably prevented MSCs from hypoxia/SD-induced apoptosis through inhibition of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway,leading to attenuation of caspase-3 activation.The loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and cytochrome C release from mitochondria to cytosol were significantly inhibited by lovastatin.Conclusion Lovastatin protects MSCs from hypoxia/SD-induced apoptosis via inhibiting mitochondrial pathway,suggesting that it may provide a useful therapeutic adjunct for transplanting MSCs into damaged heart after myocardial infarction.