MMP2 and hypertensive disorder: The main findings of the present study are that pravastatin: (I) attenuates hypertension and prevents placental weight loss; (II) prevents reductions in circulating NO metabolites; (III) protects against increases in oxidative stress and restores antioxidant capacity, (IV); mitigates increases in activity of MMP-2; and (V) enhances endothelium-derived NO-dependent vasodilation in rats with hypertension in pregnancy associated with placental weight loss.