Objective： To investigate the effects of simvastatin on atherosclerosis and central aortic pressure in ApoEknockout （ApoE-/-） mice. Methods： Ten 5weekold male ApoE-/- mice and 5 C57 mice were fed with highlipid diet for 3 weeks， and then C57 mice （WT group） and 5 ApoE-/- mice （ApoE-/- group） were given 1% carboxymethyl cellulose solution （8 ml·kg-1·d-1）， and another 5 ApoE-/- mice （ApoE-/-/S group） were given simvastatin solution （50 mg·kg-1·d-1） by gavege for 3 weeks. The areas of atherosclerotic lesion in aortic root， central aortic pressure and serum lipid levels were examined. Results： No atherosclerotic plaques were observed in WT group. Compared with ApoE-/- group， simvastatin significantly decreased atherosclerotic lesion area in aortic root （89 81805±16 98093 μm2 vs 34 93701±13 28065 μm2， P<005）. The systolic pressure （SP）， mean arterial pressure （MAP）， pulse pressure （PP） and diastolic pressure （DP） of central aortic pressure were significantly increased in ApoE-/- group compared with those in WT group （P<005）. Compared to ApoE-/- group， the SP， MAP and PP of central aortic pressure were significantly reduced in ApoE-/-/S group （P<005）. SP and MAP of central aortic pressure were positively correlated with atherosclerotic lesion area （SP: r=07152， P=00461; PP: r=07594， P=00288）. Compared with WT group， serum triglyceride， total cholesterol and lowdensity lipoprotein levels were markedly increased in ApoE-/- group （P<005）. Serum highdensity lipoprotein level was decreased in ApoE-/- group compared with WT group. No differences in serum triglyceride， total cholesterol， lowdensity lipoprotein and highdensity lipoprotein levels were found between ApoE-/- group and ApoE-/-/S group. Conclusion： Simvastatin can attenuate atherosclerosis of aorta in ApoE-/- mice， which is associated with the reduced central aortic systolic pressure but not with the serum lipids levels.