不同饮用水对高脂饮食诱导的大鼠脂质代谢紊乱和肝损伤的影响

目的 探究不同饮用水对高脂饮食条件下大鼠脂质代谢紊乱和肝损伤的影响。方法 实验用水为溶解性总固体（TDS）和镁含量明显不同的自来水、纯净水、天然矿泉水1、天然矿泉水2。25只雄性Wistar大鼠随机分为5组,分组及干预如下：对照组（TN）饲喂自来水+基础饲料,自来水组（TW）饲喂自来水+高脂饲料,纯净水组（PW）饲喂纯净水+高脂饲料,天然矿泉水1组（VW）饲喂天然矿泉水1+高脂饲料,天然矿泉水2组（SW）饲喂天然矿泉水2+高脂饲料。每日记录大鼠饮水量及摄食量,每周称重1次,20w后收集大鼠血液和肝脏标本,测定大鼠肝脏重量和肝脏指数,检测血清总胆固醇（total cholesterol,TC）、甘油三酯（triglyceride,TG）、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（low density lipoprotein cholesterol,LDL-C）、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇（high density lipoprotein cholesterol,HDL-C）、谷丙转氨酶（alanine aminotransferase,ALT）和谷草转氨酶（aspartate aminotransferase,AS...     

大豆异黄酮对大鼠脂质的影响及减肥作用研究

目的建立大鼠肥胖和高脂模型，观察大豆异黄酮对肥胖、高血脂大鼠的减肥降脂作用，并研究其作用机理。方法选用SD雄性大鼠、喂饲高脂饲料，建立肥胖和高血脂模型，对大豆异黄酮进行减肥降脂试验。结果大豆异黄酮中、高剂量组均能明显降低高血脂大鼠血清胆固醇（TC）、甘油三脂（TG）和低密度脂蛋白（LDL-C）含量；高剂量组能明显提高大鼠血清高密度脂蛋白（HDL-C）含量，同时也明显降低肥胖大鼠的体重和体内脂肪重。结论大豆异黄酮具有减肥降脂作用，其机理可能与调节机体脂质代谢有关。     

辅酶Q10联合大豆磷脂对高脂血症模型大鼠降脂作用研究

目的 通过高脂饮食诱导建立高脂血症Sprague-Dawley(SD)大鼠动物模型,研究辅酶Q10联合大豆磷脂对大鼠血脂水平的影响。方法 将50只SPF级雄性SD大鼠按体重随机分成2组,10只大鼠为空白对照组给予维持饲料,40只为模型组给予高脂模型饲料。根据血清总胆固醇（total cholesterol,TC）水平将模型组随机分成4 g/L辅酶Q10+46 g/L大豆磷脂组、8 g/L辅酶Q10+92 g/L大豆磷脂组、16 g/L辅酶Q10+184 g/L大豆磷脂组及模型对照组,每组10只,灌胃容量5 ml/kg,连续进行4周,模型对照组、空白对照组给予等量玉米油。大鼠不禁食采用眼内眦静脉丛采血,全自动生化分析仪测定血清TC、甘油三酯（triglyceride,TG）、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇（high density lipoprotein cholesterol,HDL-C）、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（low density lipoprotein cholesterol,LDL-C）水平。结果 辅酶Q10联合大豆磷脂经口灌胃给予4周后,8 g/L辅酶Q10+92 g/L大豆磷脂组大鼠血清...     

珊瑚状猴头菌多糖降血胆固醇作用及机制

目的探讨珊瑚状猴头菌多糖对高胆固醇大鼠血脂的影响机制。方法 SD大鼠随机分为4组:正常对照组(NC组)、高胆固醇模型组(HCM组)、试验Ⅰ组[EⅠ组,100 mg/(kg bw d)]及试验Ⅱ组[EⅡ组,200 mg/(kg bw d)],每组8只。35 d后,测定血清总胆固醇(total cholesterol,TC)、甘油三酯(triglycerides,TG)、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(high density lipoprotein cholesterol,HDL-C)、以及低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(low density lipoprotein cholesterol,LDL-C)含量,同时计算血浆致动脉硬化指数(ΑIP);收集粪便,检测其中胆汁酸的量;通过Real-time RT-PCR法测定肝脏HMG-CoΑ还原酶、LDL受体(LDL-R)、胆汁酸合成限速酶(CYP7α-1)m RNA表达量。结果珊瑚状猴头菌多糖可显著降低模型组大鼠的血TC和LDL-C,增加HDL-C,使动脉硬化发生的概率减小,增加粪便胆汁酸排泄量(P0.01或P0.05),控制体重增长(P0.01),降低HMG-CoΑ还原酶m RNΑ表达量,增加LDL-R、CYP7α-1 m RNΑ表达量(P0.01或P0.05)。结论珊瑚状猴头菌多糖能有效调节高胆固醇大鼠的血脂水平。     

大豆异黄酮对去卵巢大鼠LXRα表达影响

目的 研究高含量大豆异黄酮(Soybean Isoflavone,SI)对去卵巢高脂模型大鼠肝X受体a(Liver X receptorα,LXRα)基因表达的影响.方法 将48只成年雌性SD大鼠去卵巢,根椐体重和总胆固醇(TC)水平随机分为6组,分别喂饲不同饲料12周;实验结束采集尾血测定其体内血脂水平,并检测大鼠肝脏、小肠中LXRα基因表达情况.结果 与高脂模型组比较,大豆异黄酮各剂量组大鼠血中甘油三酯(TG)、TC、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)水平均降低(P<0.05),大豆异黄酮高剂量组高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL-C)水平为(1.71±0.17)mmol/L,明显高于高脂模型组的(1.36±0.21)mmol/L(P<0.05);大豆异黄酮高剂量组、雌激素对照组大鼠肝脏中LXRα基因表达明显高于高脂模型组(P<0.05);与高脂模型组比较,雌激素对照组大鼠小肠中LXRα基因表达明显升高.结论 大豆异黄酮可拮抗高脂饲料对去卵巢大鼠造成的脂代谢紊乱,并促进肝脏中LXRα基因的表达.     

木浆源甾醇对高脂高胆固醇仓鼠胆固醇代谢基因表达的影响

目的研究木浆源甾醇对高脂高胆固醇仓鼠肝脏中胆固醇代谢基因表达的影响。方法测定空白组、高脂组、实验组仓鼠的质量、脏器重量、血清中总胆固醇(total cholesterol,TC)、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(high density lipoprotein cholesterol,HDL-C)、甘油三酯(triglyceride,TG)水平。检测肝脏中胆固醇代谢相关调控基因m RNA表达水平及肝脏胆固醇含量和粪便固醇排泄量。结果木浆源甾醇可以极显著降低TC、TG、和Non HDL-C水平(P0.01),同时极显著降低肝脏中胆固醇含量和肝脏重量(P0.01),显著增加粪中固醇排泄量(P0.05)。实验组肝脏中SREBP2、CYP7A1、HMG-Co A-R和LDL-R m RNA表达水平显著上调(P0.05)。给予木浆源甾醇后可以改变肠道菌群多样性,增加有益菌减少有害菌数量。结论木浆源甾醇可能通过调控肝脏中胆固醇代谢相关基因的表达,抑制胆固醇的合成吸收并增加固醇的排泄,同时丰富肠道微生物多样性,增加有益菌数量,协同作用调控机体胆固醇的代谢。     

白藜芦醇对高脂饲料喂养C57BL／6J小鼠胆固醇代谢的影响

目的研究白藜芦醇干预对高脂喂养C57BL／6J小鼠胆固醇代谢的影响。方法将雄性C57BL／6J小鼠随机分为基础组、高脂组和干预组,每组10只。基础组和高脂组分别喂饲基础饲料和高脂饲料并给予0．5％羧甲基纤维素钠溶液灌胃,干预组在喂饲高脂饲料的同时给予0．5％羧甲基纤维素钠溶液溶解的白藜芦醇灌胃,干预16周后后测定小鼠体重、肝指数、血清总胆固醇（TC）、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇（HDL—C）、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（LDL—C）水平和肝脏TC水平。结果与高脂组比较,干预组血清中TC、LDL—C和肝脏TC水平降低,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。各组小鼠体重增量和肝指数的差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。结论白藜芦醇干预可以有效降低高脂喂养C57BL／6J小鼠的血清TC、LDL—C水平和肝脏TC水平。     

大豆活性肽降低大鼠血浆胆固醇机理的初步探讨

目的探讨膳食大豆活性肽对高胆固醇模型大鼠血浆胆固醇及其有关血脂指标的影响,并对其可能的作用机理加以研究。方法4周龄断乳雄性Wistar大鼠,经28d诱导高胆固醇模型以后,按血浆总胆固醇浓度将动物均衡分为2组,分别喂饲含酪蛋白和大豆活性肽的纯合成高脂饲料56d。结果经28d诱导高胆固醇模型后,高胆固醇模型大鼠的TC浓度是阴性对照组的1.51倍。又经56d喂饲含有处理因素的饲料后,酪蛋白组和大豆活性肽组大鼠体重分别增加了（198.5和119.3）g;血浆总胆固醇浓度水平分别为（6.41±0.57和3.01±0.37）mmol/L;TG水平分别为（3.73±0.70和2.13±0.61）mmol/L;粪胆汁酸含量分别为（0.75±0.13和0.96±0.17）mmol/d;与酪蛋白组相比,大豆活性肽组动物体重及TC,TG和apoB含量显著降低,而粪胆汁酸含量显著增加（P〈0.05）。大豆活性肽组可使大鼠肝脏HMG-CoA还原酶 mRNA,LDL-R mRNA的表达增强。结论膳食大豆活性肽摄入可降低高胆固醇模型大鼠TC、TG、apoB浓度、使粪胆汁酸排泄量增高,但对HDL-C,apoA水平无影响。另外,大豆活性肽可以增强大鼠肝脏HMG-CoA还原酶及LDL-R基因的表达,这可能是其降低血浆胆固醇的机理之一。大豆活性肽可影响血浆胆固醇水平,但其相应的作用机理还需进一步探讨。     

血脂异常的预防与生活方式管理

血脂中的主要成分是胆固醇和甘油三酯（triglyceride，TG）。胆固醇和甘油三酯是疏水分子，必须与血液中的蛋白质和其他类脂（如磷脂等）一起组合成亲水性的球状巨分子复合物——脂蛋白，才能在血液中被转运，所以，血脂异常通常是指血中总胆固醇（total cholesterol，TC）、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（low density lipoprotein cholesterol，LDL-ch）、TG水平升高，或高密度脂蛋白胆固醇（high density lipoprotein cholesterol，HDL-ch）降低。既往采用高脂血症或高脂蛋白     

大豆异黄酮对动脉硬化大鼠的抗氧化作用研究

目的研究高含量大豆异黄酮（soy isoflavones,SI）对高脂型动脉粥样硬化大鼠动脉斑块面积及体内氧化酶活力、过氧化脂质的影响。方法国内首次采用总异黄酮含量为72．35％（金雀异黄素含量28．49％）的大豆异黄酮作为受试物，设30mg／kg体重、90mg／M体重、270mg／M体重3个剂量组，同时设雌激素（已烯雌酚）对照组，与动脉粥样硬化（atheroselelmis,AS）高脂模型组、正常饲料对照组，喂饲Wistar大鼠，经一段时间，检测血液、肝脏抗氧化酶如超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、谷胱甘肽过氧物酶（GSH—Px）及总抗氧化活力（T—AOC）和过氧化脂质产物丙二醛（MDA）的浓度并用计算机图像分析粥样斑块面积。结果添加高含量大豆异黄酮的饲料组大鼠血液和肝脏中SOD、GSH—Px、T—AOC等抗氧化酶的活力升高，过氧化脂质产物MDA的含量降低，动脉粥样斑块形成面积显著减少（P〈0．05），且有明显的剂量-效应关系。结论大豆异黄酮在高脂型动脉粥样硬化大鼠体内发挥抗氧化作用，抵抗动脉粥样硬化的形成。     

大豆异黄酮对动脉硬化小鼠胆固醇外排作用的影响

目的观察大豆异黄酮(SIF)对动脉硬化小鼠胆固醇外排作用的影响,揭示SIF降脂及抗动脉硬化的作用靶标和相关机制,为进一步探索(SIF)的功能和动脉硬化的防治新措施提供依据。方法 C57BL/6J小鼠30只,随机分为3组,每组10只。正常对照组饲以正常合成饲料;模型对照组和大豆异黄酮组均饲以高脂饲料,后者再以大豆异黄酮灌胃,实验周期16周。观察大豆异黄酮干预对小鼠主动脉形态结构、三磷酸腺苷结合盒转运体A1(ABCA1)表达和血清胆固醇水平的影响。结果与模型对照组比较,大豆异黄酮组小鼠主动脉内皮未出现明显增厚,脂质沉积和泡沫细胞也明显减少;主动脉ABCA1蛋白表达显著增强(P0.05),接近正常对照组水平;血清总胆固醇和低密度脂蛋白胆固醇分别为(2.31±0.19)和(1.65±0.19)mmol/L,明显低于模型对照组水平〔(2.59±0.22)和(2.12±0.14)mmol/L,P0.05〕;血清高密度脂蛋白胆固醇为(1.19±0.16)mmol/L,明显高于模型对照组〔(0.74±0.19)mmol/L,P0.01〕。结论大豆异黄酮通过诱导ABCA1表达,增强组织胆固醇的逆转运,改善脂质代谢状况,从而发挥抗动脉粥样硬化的作用。     

建立雄性SD大鼠高脂血症模型研究

目的比较两种不同高脂饲喂法致高脂血症大鼠模型的异同点,并对其使用特点进行初步评价。方法按体重、血清胆固醇水平将24只4周龄健康雄性SD大鼠随机分为正常对照组（A组）、普通高脂模型组（B组）和丙硫氧嘧啶模型组（C组）,分别饲以基础饲料、未添加丙硫氧嘧啶的高脂饲料和添加0.2%丙硫氧嘧啶的高脂饲料。6周后处死大鼠,测定血脂指标、计算肝指数,并对肝脏进行组织病理学检查,采用单因素方差分析和LSD法对各指标进行分析比较。结果与A组相比,两模型组大鼠体重增加缓慢（P〈0.05）,C组较B组增重更加缓慢（P〈0.01）。两模型组大鼠在实验期间表征有较大差异;两模型组TC、LDL-C水平均显著升高（P〈0.05）,C组升高更为显著（P〈0.01）。两模型组TG、HDL-C水平变化差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）;病理组织学检查表明,两种高脂模型组大鼠肝脏均出现脂肪样变,肝细胞体积增大,细胞核被细胞内大脂滴挤向一侧。结论两种方法均能成功建立SD大鼠高脂血症模型,但普通高脂模型可用于食品、保健品等以预防为目的的降脂功效评估,而添加了丙硫氧嘧啶的高脂模型更适用于降脂药的临床前评价。     

Isoflavone and Protein Constituents of Lactic Acid-Fermented Soy Milk Combine to Prevent Dyslipidemia in Rats Fed a High Cholesterol Diet

A high cholesterol diet induces dyslipidemia. This study investigated whether isoflavone aglycones in lactic acid-fermented soy milk (LFS) improve lipid metabolism in rats fed a high cholesterol diet. Male Sprague-Dawley rats aged seven weeks were fed an AIN-93G diet, a 1% cholesterol diet (a high cholesterol diet), a high-cholesterol diet containing 4% isoflavone extract of LFS (LFS extract diet), a high-cholesterol diet containing 19.4% ethanol-washed LFS (ethanol-washed LFS diet, isoflavone-poor diet), or a high cholesterol diet containing 23.2% intact LFS (intact LFS diet) for five weeks. The plasma total cholesterol (TC) level was increased in the rats fed the LFS extract diet compared with those fed the high cholesterol diet. The TC level was decreased by the intact LFS and ethanol-washed LFS diets. The cholesterol-lowering effect was stronger in the rats fed the intact LFS diet than those fed the ethanol-washed LFS diet. The plasma triglyceride (TG) level was unchanged in the rats fed the LFS extract diet, but it decreased in rats fed the intact LFS and ethanol-washed LFS diets. Although, compared with the high cholesterol diet, the LFS extract and ethanol-washed LFS diets did not reduce hepatic cholesterol and TG, both levels were remarkably lowered by the intact LFS diet. These results suggest that the improvement in lipid metabolism of rats fed a high-cholesterol diet containing LFS isoflavone aglycones is not due to an independent effect but due to a cooperative effect with soy protein.     

有氧运动对高脂膳食大鼠血液中胃促生长素及血脂的影响

目的探讨有氧运动对高脂膳食大鼠血液中胃促生长素（Ghrelin）和血脂的影响。方法成年SD大鼠30只,分为3组,每组10只,分为正常对照组、高脂对照组、高脂运动组,建立运动高脂膳食动物模型。对各组大鼠血液中血糖、甘油三酯（IG）、胆固醇（Tc）、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇（HDL—C）和低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（LDL—C）进行测试;使用酶免试剂盒测试Ghrelin。结果高脂膳食组大鼠体重为（405．7±28．9）g,血糖为（9．38±3．66）mol／L,TC为（2．992±0．086）mol／L,TG为（0．585±0．055）mol／L,LDL—C为（0．325±0．073）mol／L,均高于正常对照组;血液中Ghrelin含量为（1153．38±323．25）pg／mm3,HDL—C为（0．388±0．073）mol／L,均低于正常对照组,且差异有统计学意义（P〈0．01）。有氧运动后,体重为（366．9±31．3）g）,血糖为（7．53±n12）mol／L,TC为（1．898±n141）mol／L,TG为（0．543±0．043）mol／L,LDL-C为（0．287±0．022）mol／L均明显降低;血液中Ghrelin含量为（1398．34±325．56）pg／mm2,HDL．C为（n495±0．069）mol／L,均明显升高,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．01）。结论有氧运动能减少大鼠体内脂肪组织含量,升高大鼠血液中Ghrelin的含量,降低TC含量,升高HDL含量,为运动治疗高脂血症（AS）提供试验依据。     

大豆蛋白对大鼠血浆胆固醇影响及作用机制

目的探讨膳食大豆蛋白对高胆固醇模型大鼠血浆胆固醇及其相关血脂指标的影响及可能的作用机制。方法4周龄断乳雄性Wistar大鼠，诱导高胆固醇模型28d后，按体重和血浆总胆固醇浓度均衡分为2组，分别喂饲含酪蛋白和大豆蛋白的纯合成高脂饲料56d。结果酪蛋白组和大豆蛋白组大鼠TC、甘油三酯（TG）、载脂蛋白B（apoB）含量显著降低，粪胆汁酸排泄量增高。但对高密度脂蛋白胆固醇（鼢L—C），载脂蛋白AⅠ（apoA—Ⅰ）zk平无影响；同时可见，大豆蛋白可以增强大鼠肝脏3-羟基-3-甲酰基CoA（HMG—CoA）还原酶及低密度脂蛋白受体（LDL—R）基因的表达。结论大豆蛋白可通过影响apoB、HMG—CoA还原酶及LDL—R基因的表达来改变血浆胆固醇水平，其作用机制还需进一步探讨。     

Dietary taurine enhances cholesterol degradation and reduces serum and liver cholesterol concentrations in rats fed a high-cholesterol diet.

The effect of taurine on hypercholesterolemia induced by feeding a high-cholesterol (HC) diet (10g/kg) to rats was examined. When various amounts of taurine (0.25, 0.5, 1, 2.5, 5, 10, 20, 30, 40 or 50 g/kg diet) were supplemented to HC for 2 wk, serum total cholesterol gradually and significantly decreased in a dose-dependent manner and normalized at the dose of 10 g taurine/kg, compared with the control (cholesterol free) diet group. By contrast, serum HDL-cholesterol was elevated by taurine supplementation. The HC diet caused a significant decrease in the concentration of taurine in serum, liver and heart compared to that in the control group, and the effective dose of supplemental taurine to improve its reduction was 2.5 g/kg diet. In the hypercholesterolemic rats fed the HC diet, the excretion of fecal bile acids and hepatic cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase (CYP7A1) activity and its mRNA level increased significantly, and the supplementation of taurine further enhanced these indexes, indicating an increase in cholesterol degradation. The abundance of mRNA for Apo A-I, one of the main components of HDL, was reduced by HC and recovered by taurine supplementation. Agarose gel electrophoresis revealed that, in hypercholesterolemic rats fed the HC diet, the serum level of the heavier VLDL increased significantly, but taurine repressed this increase and normalized this pattern. Significant correlations were observed between the time- and dose-dependent increases of CYP7A1 gene expression and the decrease of blood cholesterol concentration in rats fed the HC diet supplemented with taurine (time, r = -0.538, P < 0.01, n = 32; dose, r = -0.738, P < 0.001, n = 20). These results suggest that the hypocholesterolemic effects of taurine observed in the hypocholesterolemic rats fed the HC diet were mainly due to the enhancement of cholesterol degradation and the excretion of bile acid.     

High urinary isoflavone excretion phenotype decreases plasma cholesterol in golden Syrian hamsters fed soy protein

Apparent absorption of isoflavones varies greatly among individuals but is relatively stable within an individual. We hypothesized that high urinary isoflavone excreters would show less plasma non-HDL cholesterol (non-HDL-C) than low isoflavone excreters after soy protein feeding. Fifty Golden Syrian hamsters were fed a high-fat/casein diet (n = 10) or a high-fat/soy protein diet (n = 40) for 4 wk. We identified 2 distinct urinary isoflavone excretion phenotypes based upon HPLC analysis of urinary glycitein using a pairwise correlation plots analysis, or based upon total urinary isoflavone using a hierarchical cluster test. High isoflavone excreters showed greater urinary isoflavones (P < 0.05) than did low isoflavone excreters at wk 1 and 4. The low urinary glycitein excretion phenotype was more stable than the high urinary glycitein excretion phenotype by McNemar's test. High urinary isoflavone excreters had significantly less non-HDL-C than did the low isoflavone excreters or casein-fed controls (P < 0.05). Plasma total and non-HDL-C were negatively correlated with urinary daidzein, glycitein, and total isoflavone excretion (r = -0.45 to -0.58, P < 0.05). Urinary isoflavone excretion phenotypes predicted the cholesterol-lowering efficacy of soy protein. Isoflavone absorbability, probably due to gut microbial ecology, is an important controllable variable in studies of effects of soy protein on blood lipids.     

高脂饲料喂养结合慢性应激：一种新颖的大鼠代谢综合征模型的特点

[目的]研究高脂饲料（high fat diet,HFD）结合慢性应激（chronic stress,CS）致大鼠代谢综合征模型的特点。[方法]将32只雄性Wistar大鼠随机分为对照组、HFD喂养组、CS刺激组及HFD喂养结合CS刺激（HFD＋CS）组,每组8只。持续处理12周后,检测胰岛素抵抗、血酯及血皮质醇水平,肝脏总胆固醇、三酰甘油总含量及水溶性成分含量,肝脏氧化应激、炎症程度及肝X受体α（liver X receptorα,LXRα）、过氧化物酶体增生物激活受体γ（peroxisomeproliferator-activated receptorγ,PPARγ）基因表达,内脏脂肪含量及其内分泌功能。[结果]慢性应激可恶化由高脂饲料引起的胰岛素抵抗、血脂紊乱、肝脏氧化应激、炎症及脂肪组织内分泌紊乱。该代谢综合征模型的明显特点是肝脏水溶性总胆固醇、三酰甘油含量明显升高,肝脏LXRα、PPARγmRNA表达进一步下调,血皮质醇浓度升高。[结论]高脂饲料结合慢性应激可建立具有典型代谢综合征特征的大鼠模型,慢性应激可恶化高脂饲料引起的代谢综合征病变。     

The effects of berberine on hyperhomocysteinemia and hyperlipidemia in rats fed with a long-term high-fat diet

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: The study was undertaken to examine the effects of berberine (BBR) on serum homocysteine, lipids and the aortic lesion in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats fed with a long-term high-fat diet (HFD). METHODS: Healthy male SD rats weighing 190-210 g received randomly standard diet or a high-fat diet for 24 weeks. After 8 weeks of feeding, rats fed with HFD were randomized to receive berberine (200 mg * kg-1 * day-1) or vehicle by gavage for 16 weeks. After overnight fasting, all rats were sacrificed and total blood samples were also collected for determinant of fasting serum homocysteine (Hcy), total cholesterol (TC) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) levels. The aorta was stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and Sudan Sha to evaluate aortic lesion. The livers were dissected out and snap-frozen in liquid nitrogen for hepatic TC content and molecular analysis. 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGR), Lipoprotein receptors and apolipoproteins gene expression in the liver were determined by real-time PCR. RESULTS: Intragastrical administration with berberine for 16 weeks lowered serum Hcy in rats fed with a high-fat diet. In parallel, it also decreased body weight and improved serum TC and LDL-c. Berberine also tended to decrease hepatic cholesterol. Consistently, berberine also upregulated LDL receptor (LDLR) mRNA level and suppressed HMGR gene expression. Meanwhile, upon berberine-treated rats, there was a significant increase in apolipoprotein E (apoE) mRNA, but no change in apoAI and scavenger receptor (SR) mRNA in the liver. Further, no atherosclerotic lesions were developed in berberine-treated rats for 16 weeks. CONCLUSION: Berberine can counteract HFD-elicited hyperhomocysteinemia and hyperlipidemia partially via upregulating LDLR and apoE mRNA levels and suppressing HMGR gene expression.     

Adzuki resistant starch lowered serum cholesterol and hepatic 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA mRNA levels and increased hepatic LDL-receptor and cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase mRNA levels in rats fed a cholesterol diet

We examined the effects of adzuki bean resistant starch on serum cholesterol and hepatic mRNA in rats fed a cholesterol diet. The mRNA coded for key regulatory proteins of cholesterol metabolism. The control rats were fed 15 % cornstarch (basal diet, BD). The experimental rats were fed BD plus a 0.5 % cholesterol diet (CD), or a 15 % adzuki resistant starch plus 0.5 % cholesterol diet (ACD) for 4 weeks. The serum total cholesterol and VLDL + intermediate density lipoprotein + LDL-cholesterol levels in the ACD group were significantly lower than those in the CD group throughout the feeding period. The total hepatic cholesterol concentrations in the CD and ACD groups were not significantly different. The faecal total bile acid concentration in the ACD group was significantly higher than that in the BD and CD groups. Total SCFA and acetic acid concentrations in the ACD group were significantly higher than those in the CD group but there were no significant differences in the concentrations between the ACD and BD groups. The hepatic LDL-receptor mRNA and cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase mRNA levels in the ACD group were significantly higher than those in the CD group and the hepatic 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl (HMG)-CoA reductase mRNA level in the ACD group was significantly lower than in the CD group. The results suggest that adzuki resistant starch has a serum cholesterol-lowering function via enhancement of the hepatic LDL-receptor mRNA and cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase mRNA levels and faecal bile acid excretion, and a decrease in the hepatic HMG-CoA reductase mRNA level, when it is added to a cholesterol diet.