Testosterone Deficiency Promotes Hypercholesteremia and Attenuates Cholesterol Liver Uptake via AR/PCSK9/LDLR Pathways

Figure 4

Testosterone deficiency reduces low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) in liver by upregulating proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9). Key mediators of liver cholesterol uptake LDLR and PCSK9 were analyzed in vivo and in vitro in different conditions of testosterone by western blotting and real-time quantitative PCR. ((a), (b)) LDLR and ((c), (d)) PCSK9 level in the liver of SHAM, SO, ORX rats. ((e), (f)) LDLR and ((g), (h)) PCSK9 level in HepG2 cells incubated with 0 (control), 10, 30, 300 nM testosterone for 72 h. Data are presented as mean ± SEM. Statistical analyses are one-way ANOVA. ; ; ; ns: non-significant.

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