Role of Baicalin and Liver X Receptor Alpha in the Formation of Cholesterol Gallstones in Mice

Figure 3

Lithogenic diet induced disorders of cholesterol synthesis and transport in liver. (a–c) The mRNA levels of cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (CYP7a1) (a), sterol 12α-hydroxylase (CYP8b1) (b), and liver X receptor α (LXRα) (c) in the liver were detected by real-time PCR. (d) Western blot was used to measure the protein levels of CYP7a1, CYP8b1, adenosine triphosphate binding cassette (ABC)G5, ABCG8, and LXRα in the liver of mice that received a lithogenic diet or Baicalin administration. (e–i) Quantitative analysis of CYP7a1 (e), CYP8b1 (f), ABCG5 (g), ABCG8 (h), and LXRα (i) of immunoblotting bands in (d). (j) Immunohistochemistry staining was used for detection of LXRα expression in the liver (the scale bar represented 50 μm). (, , and ). ns: no significance; BA(L): 50 mg/kg baicalin; BA(H): 100 mg/kg baicalin.

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