Aim To explore the effect and potential mechanism of atorvastatin on C-reactive protein(CRP) secretions in adipocytes from hypercholesterolemic rabbits.Methods Fourteen male New Zealand rabbits(3 months old) were randomly fed with normal diet(n=4),high-cholesterol diet(n=10) for 8 weeks,and then high-cholesterol diet rabbits were assigned to either atorvastatin 1.5 mg/kg·d(n=5) or starch(n=5).Two weeks later,subcutaneous adipose was collected for culture.CRP concentrations in serum and adipocytes culture supernatant were measured by latex particle enhanced immunoturbidometric method.With semi-quantity reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction,peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor(PPAR) γ mRNA expression was determined.Results Serum CRP levels were obviously reduced by two weeks atorvastatin treatment in hypercholesterolemic rabbits.Serum CRP concentrations were correlated with low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDLC) levels(r=0.890,p<0.001) and CRP secretions from adipocytes(r=0.688,P=0.007).The CRP secretions in adipocytes were intimately associated with LDLC levels(r=0.869,p<0.001) and PPARγ mRNA expressions in adipocytes(r=-0.857,p<0.001).Conclusions Hypercholesterolemia might induce CRP secretions in adipocytes.Atorvastatin reduces CRP serum concentrations and adipocyte secretions in hypercholesterolemic rabbits,which are possibly dependent on its cholesterol-lowering effects and upregulating PPARγ mRNA expressions in adipocytes.