Effect of DHC on hepatic lipid deposition.

<p>(A and B) apoE^−/− mice were randomized into the control group or the DHC group, and were treated with either vehicle (cholesterol-free vegetable oil) or DHC (3.0 mg/kg body weight) daily by oral gavage for 12 weeks. (I and II), Liver cryo-sections were stained with Oil Red O and hemotoxylin. Original magnification: 100X. (III and IV), Liver paraffin sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E). Original magnification: 100X. (B) The protein expression was measured by western blot. (c) HepG2 cells were treated with 0 µM, 25 µM, 50 µM and 100 µM DHC for 24 h. Gene expression was measured by real-time quantitative PCR. (D) The cells were transfected with control or LXRα siRNA or PPARγ siRNA, and then incubated with 100 µM DHC for 24 h. The protein expression was measured by western blot. The results are expressed as the mean ± S.D. of three independent experiments, each performed in triplicate. A and B, the data were compared by unpaired Student's <i>t</i> test. C and D, the data were compared by one way ANOVA followed by SNK test. *<i>p</i><0.05 vs. control group.