Abstract: Objective To investigate the effect of simvastatin on fusion process after cortical bone allograft transplantation for anterior cervical intervertebral fusion. Methods Forty--four male Wistar rats，undergone anterior cervical discectomy and fusion with allogenous cortical bone transplantation, were divided into 4 groups: control group, simvastatin group, recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein2(rhBMP-2) group and bland group. The animals of the first 3 groups were sacrificed to obtain cervical spine specimen and performed pathological examination at 2, 4, 8, and 12week intervals. The bone mineral density of cervical vertebral body was also measured. Results The bone mineral density of control group decreased markedly compared with that of blank group. No difference was found among that of the simvastatin, BMP2 and blank groups. Inflammatory fibrous capsule existed for a prolonged period and little endochondral calcification in the soft tissue was observed in control group. In both simvastatin and rhBMP-2 groups, bony fusion between the trabecula and the surface of allograft bone was achieved earlier. But in the rhBMP-2 group, fusion was observed only at the surface of the implant. Invasion of soft tissue and new blood vessels into the core region of the implants were apparent in the simvastatin group. And scattered neonate osteons were found within allograft. Conclusion Simvastatin demonstrated the potency of promotin

Key words: Simvastatin, Cervical spine, Cortical bone allograft, Fusion, Histochemistry, Rat