BACKGROUND In the present study, we examined effects of pitavastatin and cerivastatin on NO production and their mechanisms in EC. METHODS HUVEC cells (1x10(4) cells/well) were seeded into 96-well plates in 100 microl of culture medium for overnight, and then treated with various concentrations of pitavastatin or cerivastatin for 48 h. The cytotoxicity was evaluated using a WST-8 assay; The cells were cultured for 6 h in 200 microl of fresh medium containing increasing doses of pitavastatin or cerivastatin at 37 degrees C for 6 h, the NO production was detected by diaminofluoresceins (DAFs) assay; Simultaneously, The cells (1 x 10(5) cells/well) were seeded into 96-well plates in medium for overnight, and then treated with reagents at 37 degrees C for 30 min, cGMP level was measured by enzyme-immunoassay. The cells were cultured in 2 ml of fresh medium containing increasing doses of pitavastatin or cerivastatin at 37 degrees C for 30 min, the phosphorylations of eNOS and Akt were detected by Western blotting. RESULTS We found that pitavastatin not only induced NO production, but also increased cGMP level in HUVECs. Furthermore, EC were incubated with pitavastatin or cerivastatin for 30 min, Western blot analysis showed that pitavastatin (0.1 microM) significantly upregulated the phosphorylation of eNOS and Akt about 1.4-fold or 1.3-fold compared with control, however, cerivastatin (0.1 microM) did not have any effects on them. CONCLUSIONS Low dose of pitavastatin (0.1 microM) involves Akt pathway, activates eNOS activity, increases cGMP level and produces NO in EC, which is higher than that of cerivastatin.