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Figure 1. Plasma cholesterol levels and hepatic cholesterol metabolism in Spf –/– mice vs. WT mice under fasting conditions. A) Plasma lipids and glucose levels of WT mice and Spf –/– mice in nonfasted and fasted animals. Plasma cholesterol, triglyceride, and glucose levels collected after 0, 24, 48 h of fasting. Samples (0 h) were obtained before fasting. Data show mean values ± SEM. For each group, n = 5. *P < 0.05 compared to the nonfasted mice. B) Sterol synthesis in WT mice (WT) and Spf –/– mice under nonfasted (Fed) or 24 h fasted conditions (Fasted). The rates of hepatic sterol synthesis are expressed as the nmol of [3H] water incorporated into [3H] DPS per hour per gram liver. Data show mean values ± SEM. For each group, n = 3. *P < 0.05 compared to the fasted WT mice. C) Lipoprotein distribution of cholesterol after injection of Triton WR1339 in WT mice (WT) and Spf –/– mice under nonfasted (Fed, open square) or 24 h fasted conditions (Fasted, closed square). The approximate elution positions of VLDL and HDL are indicated. D) The mRNA levels of hepatic cholesterogenic enzymes of WT mice and Spf –/– mice under nonfasted (Fed) or 24 h fasted conditions (Fasted). E) Hepatic expression of SPF mRNA and protein in WT mice (wild-type) under nonfasted (Fed) or 24 h fasted (Fasted) conditions. Each value represents the amount of mRNA relative to that of the fed WT mice. Data show mean values ± SEM. For each group, n = 3. *P < 0.05 compared to the fed mice.
