Cholesterol-free Diet Research Articles

Hypocholesterolemic Effect of Capsaicinoids in Rats Fed Diets with or without Cholesterol

The potential mechanism of the hypocholesterolemic effect of capsaicinoids in rats fed with cholesterol-enriched and cholesterol-free diets was determined. Capsaicinoids favorably modified the lipoprotein profile of rats. Capsaicinoids consumption down-regulated the mRNA levels of hepatic 3-hydroxyl-3-methylglutaryl CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase by 0.55-fold and hepatic cholesterol-7α-hydroxylase (CYP7A1) by 0.53-fold in the cholesterol-free diet group (P < 0.05) but up-regulated the CYP7A1 level by 1.38-fold in the cholesterol-enriched diet group (P < 0.05). It also increased the expression levels of ileal bile acid binding protein and apical sodium-dependent bile acid transporter in the ileum, as well as transient receptor potential vanilloid type-1 in the liver and ileum in the different groups. Capsaicinoids reduced the amount of bile acids in feces by -15.97% and contents of the small intestine by -9.64% in the cholesterol-free diet group (P < 0.05) but increased both by 13.06% and 10.20%, respectively, in the cholesterol-enriched diet group. The cholesterol-lowering action of capsaicinoids in the cholesterol-free diet group was attributed to the inhibition of hepatic cholesterol synthesis, whereas that in the cholesterol-enriched diet group was attributed to the stimulation of the conversion of cholesterol to bile acids and the increasing excretions of bile acids in feces.

The hypocholesterolemic effect of capsaicinoids in ovariectomized rats fed with a cholesterol-free diet was mediated by inhibition of hepatic cholesterol synthesis

Previous studies showed that capsaicinoid supplementation favorably modifies the plasma lipoprotein profile. The present study investigated the effect of capsaicinoids on plasma lipids and gene expressions of key receptors and enzymes involved in cholesterol metabolism in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. OVX rats were fed with a cholesterol-free diet and orally administered 0 mg kg(-1) bw (OVX-CON), 5 mg kg(-1) bw (OVX-LD), 10 mg kg(-1) bw (OVX-MD), and 15 mg kg(-1) bw (OVX-HD) capsaicinoids daily for 28 days. As the capsaicinoids dose increased, body weight gain and concentrations of plasma triglyceride, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, as well as total lipid accumulation were significantly decreased. In addition, the mRNA levels of hepatic 3-hydroxyl-3-methylglutaryl CoA reductase and cholesterol-7α-hydroxylase were down-regulated, whereas those of transient receptor potential vanilloid type-1, ileal apical sodium-dependent bile acid transporter, and intestinal bile acid binding protein were up-regulated. The excretion of small intestinal bile acid contents and fecal bile acid also decreased. These results suggest that capsaicinoids can prevent ovarian hormone deficiency-induced hypercholesterolemia by inhibiting the hepatic cholesterol synthesis.

&lt;i&gt;Physalis peruviana&lt;/i&gt; pomace suppresses highcholesterol diet-induced hypercholesterolemia in rats

Physalis peruviana (goldenberry) is a promising fruits that can be an ingredient in several functional foods. No reports are available on the effect of the administration of goldenberry pomace on different aspects of the plasma lipid profile in experimental animals. According to the chemical composition of the fruit pomace which includes high levels of bioactive compounds, the hypothesis was that feeding Physalis peruviana pomace may have health-promoting and hypercholesterolemic impacts on rats fed a high cholesterol diet (HCD). Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the effect of feeding goldenberry pomace on hypercholesterolemia by analyzing the changes in lipid profiles in HCD fed rats. The chemical composition, lipid profiles (fatty acids, tocopherols and sterols) and phenolic contents of the fruit pomace were determined. Generally, rats fed the fruit pomace showed lower levels of total cholesterol (TC), total triacylglycerol (TAG) and total low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol as well as higher levels of high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol in comparison with animals fed HCD and cholesterol free diets (CFD). Histological examinations of the liver and kidney were also studied. The results demonstrated that goldenberry pomace consumption provides overall beneficial effects on reversing HCD associated detrimental changes.

O041 Predominant role of macrophage-derived IL-1alpha but not IL-1beta in atherosclerosis

Introduction Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the arterial vasculature. Its clinical manifestations, such as myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke, are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. IL-1 receptor (IL-1R)-signaling severely exacerbates the chronic vascular inflammation that drives disease progression. While the contribution of inflammasome-activation to atherogenesis in vivo remains controversial, IL-1beta is currently targeted in clinical trials. However, as both IL-1alpha and IL-1beta signal via IL-1R and exhibit overlapping functions, the relative contribution of each IL-1 isoform to atherogenesis is still unclear. Methods We have compared the impact of both IL-1 isoforms on disease progression in mouse models of atherosclerosis, and have investigated the mechanisms of IL-1alpha versus IL-1beta induction by different atherogenic lipids in macrophage-foam cells. Results Here we report that deficiency in hematopoietic IL-1alpha markedly reduced atherosclerosis by 51%, whereas no significant effect was observed in mice lacking BM-derived IL-1beta, suggesting that macrophage-derived IL-1alpha - and not IL-1beta - represents the pro-atherogenic IL-1 isoform. Moreover, our study identified the fatty acid oleic acid, which is abundant amongst plaque lipids, as a selective trigger of potent IL-1alpha - but not IL-1beta - responses in foam cells. This atherogenic IL-1alpha production was independent of inflammasome activation, but surprisingly required the cellular expression of pro-IL-1beta. Hence, IL-1beta−/− macrophages were unable to secrete IL-1alpha, which may explain the conflicting reports showing reduced atherosclerosis in IL-1beta-deficient mice. Furthermore, feeding of an oleate-enriched but cholesterol-free diet aggravated atherogenesis, suggesting that IL-1alpha is both necessary and sufficient to induce the development of atherosclerotic plaques. Conclusion Taken together, our data demonstrate that macrophage-foam cells promote atherogenesis primarily through production of IL-1alpha, and therefore suggest that the role of inflammasome activation and IL-1beta in atherosclerosis may need to be reconsidered. Most importantly, they indicate that IL-1alpha and not IL-1beta should be targeted therapeutically in patients with cardiovascular disease.

Goldenberry (Physalis peruviana) Juice Rich in Health-Beneficial Compounds Suppresses High-Cholesterol Diet-Induced Hypercholesterolemia in Rats

Goldenberries (Physalis peruviana) are a promising exotic fruit that could be a subject of many novel foods. No reports are available on the effect of administration of goldenberries on different aspects of blood profile in experimental animals. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of feeding goldenberry juice on hypercholesterolemia by analyzing the changes in the blood profile of high-cholesterol diet (HCD)-fed rats. The chemical composition and antiradical properties of juice were determined. Generally, rats fed with goldenberry juice showed lower levels of total cholesterol, total triacylglycerol and total low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, as well as higher levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in comparison with animals fed with HCD and cholesterol-free diet. Juice administration induced a decrease in the activity of glutamic pyruvic transaminase compared with the positive control group after 2 months of administration. There was a remarkable decrease in total serum protein, albumin and globulin for groups treated with goldenberry juice. Histological examination of the liver and kidney were also conducted. The results demonstrated that consumption of goldenberry juice may provide beneficial effects on reversing HCD-associated detrimental changes.

Regulation of Neuronal APL-1 Expression by Cholesterol Starvation

BackgroundAlzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the deposition of β-amyloid plaques composed primarily of the amyloid-β peptide, a cleavage product of amyloid precursor protein (APP). While mutations in APP lead to the development of Familial Alzheimer's Disease (FAD), sporadic AD has only one clear genetic modifier: the ε4 allele of the apolipoprotein E (ApoE) gene. Cholesterol starvation in Caenorhabditis elegans leads to molting and arrest phenotypes similar to loss-of-function mutants of the APP ortholog, apl-1 (amyloid precursor-like protein 1), and lrp-1 (lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1), suggesting a potential interaction between apl-1 and cholesterol metabolism.Methodology/Principal FindingsPreviously, we found that RNAi knock-down of apl-1 leads to aldicarb hypersensitivity, indicating a defect in synaptic function. Here we find the same defect is recapitulated during lrp-1 knock-down and by cholesterol starvation. A cholesterol-free diet or loss of lrp-1 directly affects APL-1 levels as both lead to loss of APL-1::GFP fluorescence in neurons. However, loss of cholesterol does not affect global transcription or protein levels as seen by qPCR and Western blot.ConclusionsOur results show that cholesterol and lrp-1 are involved in the regulation of synaptic transmission, similar to apl-1. Both are able to modulate APL-1 protein levels in neurons, however cholesterol changes do not affect global apl-1 transcription or APL-1 protein indicating the changes are specific to neurons. Thus, regulation of synaptic transmission and molting by LRP-1 and cholesterol may be mediated by their ability to control APL-1 neuronal protein expression.

Rice Protein Extracted by Different Methods Affects Cholesterol Metabolism in Rats Due to Its Lower Digestibility

To elucidate whether the digestibility is responsible for the hypocholesterolemic action of rice protein, the effects of rice proteins extracted by alkali (RP-A) and α-amylase (RP-E) on cholesterol metabolism were investigated in 7-week-old male Wistar rats fed cholesterol-free diets for 3 weeks. The in vitro and in vivo digestibility was significantly reduced by RP-A and RP-E as compared to casein (CAS). The digestibility was lower in RP-E than that of RP-A. Compared with CAS, the significant cholesterol-lowering effects were observed in rats fed by RP-A and RP-E. Fecal excretion of bile acids was significantly stimulated by RP-E, but not by RP-A. The apparent cholesterol absorption was more effectively inhibited by RP-E than RP-A because more fecal neutral sterols were excreted in rats fed RP-E. There was a significant correlation between protein digestibility and cholesterol absorption (r = 0.8662, P < 0.01), resulting in a significant correlation between protein digestibility and plasma cholesterol level (r = 0.7357, P < 0.01) in this study. The present study demonstrates that the digestibility of rice protein affected by extraction method plays a major role in the modulation of cholesterol metabolism. Results suggest that the hypocholesterolemic action induced by rice protein with lower digestibility primarily contribute to the inhibition of cholesterol absorption.

Hypocholesterolaemic effect of water-insoluble fish protein from Alaska pollock in ovariectomised rats is not abolished by methionine addition

The present study investigated whether the hypocholesterolaemic effect of water-insoluble fish protein (IFP) from Alaska pollock in ovariectomised (OVX) rats was affected by methionine (Met) addition. OVX rats (6 months old) were fed a cholesterol-free diet containing casein, IFP or IFP+Met as a protein source for 28d. The ratio of Met:glycine was lower in the IFP and IFP+Met diets compared with the casein diet. Body-weight gain, food intake and liver lipids were not affected by the diet. Plasma total cholesterol concentration was lower in OVX rats fed the IFP diet compared with those fed the casein diet. The hypocholesterolaemic effect of the IFP diet was not abolished by Met addition. Amount of bile acids in the small-intestinal content and faecal excretion of bile acids were higher in OVX rats fed the IFP and IFP+Met diets compared with those fed the casein diet. Ileal bile acid transporter (IBAT) mRNA level and faecal excretion of bile acids were significantly lower and higher, respectively, in OVX rats fed the IFP diet compared with those fed the casein diet, but not in those fed the IFP+Met diet. Thus, the hypocholesterolaemic effect of the IFP diet seems to be mediated by increased faecal excretion of bile acids coupled with decreased reabsorption of bile acids from the ileum through a decrease in IBAT and the change in cholesterol metabolism linked to the amino acid profile.

Modified Soybean Affects Cholesterol Metabolism in Rats Similarly to a Commercial Cultivar

The consumption of soy protein lowers blood cholesterol in humans and animals. Breeding may alter the physiological effects of soybeans, such as its cholesterol-lowering property. Our hypothesis is that breeding affects the hypocholesterolemic effect of soy by modulating the expression of key hepatic enzymes related to cholesterol and bile acid biosynthesis, as well as altering fecal neutral and acidic steroid excretion. Therefore the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a new Brazilian soybean cultivar (UFV-116), lacking lipoxygenases 2 and 3, compared with a commercial cultivar (OCEPAR-19), on 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMGR) and cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (CYP7A) mRNA expression and fecal steroid output in rats. Thirty-six male rats were fed UFV-116, OCEPAR-19, or casein as the protein source, with or without addition of dietary cholesterol (0.25%). Blood and liver cholesterol, HMGR and CYP7A mRNA abundance, and fecal excretion of steroids were measured. Blood and liver cholesterol levels were lowered by both soybean cultivars, with and without cholesterol, but UFV-116 was more effective when included in the cholesterol-free diet. Both soy diets promoted lower levels of HMGR mRNA, higher levels of CYP7A mRNA, and higher excretion of fecal secondary bile acids. There was higher fecal neutral steroid output when cholesterol was added to all diets. These data show that both soybean cultivars acted similarly in lowering serum and hepatic cholesterol; therefore, breeding did not affect the hypocholesterolemic effect of the new cultivar.

Beneficial Effects of Alternate Dietary Regimen on Liver Inflammation, Atherosclerosis and Renal Activation

BackgroundAlternate day calorie restriction (CR) has been shown to be almost as beneficial as daily CR. The question arises whether this concept is also applicable to alternating dietary composition.ObjectiveTo seek evidence that alternating high cholesterol (HC) - cholesterol-free (CON) Western diet can effectively diminish hepatic and renal inflammation and cardiovascular risk factors as compared with daily HC-supplemented Western diet.DesignFour groups of ApoE*3Leiden mice, a humanized model for atherosclerosis, were subjected to different feeding treatments for 16 weeks. Mice were fed CON diet; CON diet with 1% w/w cholesterol (HC); alternate (ALT) diet regimen of CON (4 days) and HC (3 days); or CON diet supplemented with 0.43% (w/w) cholesterol (MC), with overall dietary cholesterol intake equal to ALT. Plasma was analyzed for cardiovascular risk factors, aorta for atherosclerotic lesion formation, and liver and kidney for inflammation.ResultsALT diet but not MC was almost as effective as daily CON feeding in preventing disease development. Compared to HC, the ALT group showed 62% lower hepatic nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) activity (P<0.001), a reduction of the circulating inflammatory markers E-selectin (−20%; P<0.05), vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1; −15%; P<0.05) and Serum Amyloid A (SAA; −31%; P<0.05), smaller atherosclerotic lesion sizes (−51%; 46497±10791 µm2 vs. 94664±16470 µm2; P<0.05) and diminished renal expression of specific inflammation and activation markers (VCAM-1, −27%; P<0.05; monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1); −37%; P<0.01).ConclusionAlternate HC-CON feeding reproduced most of the beneficial effects of daily cholesterol-free diet, including strongly diminished hepatic, vascular and renal activation and inflammation; also atherosclerosis was reduced by half as compared to HC, albeit still higher compared to the CON group.

Addition of Methionine to Rice Protein Affects Hepatic Cholesterol Output Inducing Hypocholesterolemia in Rats Fed Cholesterol-Free Diets

To elucidate whether a low methionine (Met)/glycine (Gly) ratio is responsible for the hypocholesterolemic effect of rice protein (RP), the effects of adding Met to RP, increasing its Met/Gly ratio, on hepatic cholesterol output was investigated in rats fed cholesterol-free diets. The hepatic secretion of cholesterol into bile or circulation was measured from isolated perfused livers of 7-week-old male Wistar rats fed RP (cultivar Koshihikari) with a lower Met/Gly ratio and methionine-supplemented RP with a higher Met/Gly ratio (RP-M) matched with casein (CAS). RP-M produced a significant hypocholesterolemic effect, whereas the effect of RP on plasma cholesterol level was comparable to that of CAS. Hepatic accumulation of total lipids, cholesterol, and phospholipids was higher in RP-M rats than in RP rats, again following a pattern similar to that in CAS rats. The hepatic total and very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL)-cholesterol secretions into circulation were effectively decreased by RP, but not by RP-M. Bile flow and biliary outputs of bile acids, cholesterol, and phospholipids were significantly stimulated by RP-M, causing an increase in fecal sterol excretion compared with CAS and RP. Neither biliary output nor fecal excretion of bile acids was affected by RP compared with CAS. The present results demonstrate that the plasma cholesterol-lowering effect of RP cannot be merely ascribed to the low Met/Gly ratio of RP in growing rats fed cholesterol-free diets. Results suggest that the hypocholesterolemic response induced by RP-M with a higher Met/Gly ratio primarily contributes to the stimulation of hepatic cholesterol for elimination via biliary secretion rather than the inhibition of hepatic cholesterol release via VLDL into circulation.

Effect of Starvation-Refeeding Status on Cholesterol Metabolism in Rats Fed High-Cholesterol Diet

The present study investigated the effect of starvation-refeeding status on cholesterol metabolism in rats fed a high-cholesterol diet or a cholesterol-free diet. Twenty male and 20 female Donryu rats (age 5 weeks) were fed a cho-lesterol-free diet for 14 days. Then the male and female rats were each divided into two groups: feeding and starva-tion-refeeding groups. The feeding groups were fed the experimental diet for 3 days, and the starvation-refeeding groups fasted for 2 days followed by 3 days of feeding. Half of each of groups was fed a cholesterol-free diet and the other half was fed a high-cholesterol diet. Starvation-refeeding significantly increased the plasma free cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol concentrations in both the high-cholesterol-diet-fed rats and the cholesterol-free-diet-fed rats. In the female rats, plasma total cholesterol and cholesteryl ester concentrations were significantly higher in the high-cholesterol groups than in the cholesterol-free groups, whereas TG concentration and total cholesterol/TG ratio were not significantly different among all of the groups. Liver total cholesterol and cholesteryl ester were significantly higher in the high-cholesterol groups than in the cholesterol-free groups in both male and female rats. These results suggest that starvation-refeeding affected cholesterol metabolism at least in part. The reactivity of the cholesterol me-tabolism may be different between male and female rats.

Oleic Acid Ameliorates Amyloidosis in Cellular and Mouse Models of Alzheimer's Disease

Several lines of evidence support protective as well as deleterious effects of oleic acid (OA) on Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurological disorders; however, the bases of these effects are unclear. Our investigation demonstrates that amyloid precursor protein (APP) 695 transfected Cos-7 cells supplemented with OA have reduced secreted amyloid-beta (Aβ) levels. An early-onset AD transgenic mouse model expressing the double-mutant form of human APP, Swedish (K670N/M671L) and Indiana (V717F), corroborated our in vitro findings when they were fed a high-protein, low-fat (18% reduction), cholesterol-free diet enriched with OA. These mice exhibited an increase in Aβ40/Aβ42 ratio, reduced levels of beta-site APP cleaving enzyme (BACE) and reduced presenilin levels along with reduced amyloid plaques in the brain. The decrease in BACE levels was accompanied by increased levels of a non-amyloidogenic soluble form of APP (sAPPα). Furthermore, the low-fat/+OA diet resulted in an augmentation of insulin-degrading enzyme and insulin-like growth factor-II. These results suggest that OA supplementation and cholesterol intake restriction in a mouse model of AD reduce AD-type neuropathology.

Effects of Pectin on the Lithogenic Parameters of Bile in Gastrectomized Rats Fed a Cholesterol-Free Diet

Effects of Pectin on the Lithogenic Parameters of Bile in Gastrectomized Rats Fed a Cholesterol-Free Diet

식물류 혼합물과 마늘의 복합 조성이 고콜레스테롤혈증 흰쥐의 혈청 지질에 미치는 영향

This study was designed to investigate the effects of 4 kinds of plant water extract mixture and garlic extract (PMG) administration on serum lipid metabolism in hypercholestrolemic rats. The normal group was administered a cholesterol free diet, the control group a 1% cholesterol diet, and each experimental group was given a diet of 1% cholesterol, 1% plant mixture and 0.3, 0.5, 0.7% garlic extract (PMG-Ⅰ, PMG-Ⅱ, PMG-Ⅲ), respectively. Each diet was administered orally to SD-male rats for 4 weeks. Total cholesterol content decreased by about 20% with administration of PMG. Triglyceride content also decreased from 9.3 to 15.0% compared to the control group, and phospholipid was similar to triglyceride. There was no significant difference in HDL-cholesterol content between the control and experimental groups. LDL-cholesterol content of the normal group was 9.4 times lower than the control group and its content was significantly lower in the PMG-Ⅱ (68.45±12.83 ㎎/㎗) and PMG-Ⅲ (66.35±5.18 ㎎/㎗) groups than the PMG-Ⅰ group. VLDL-cholesterol content of the PMG-Ⅱ and Ⅲ groups were similar to the normal group. Atherogenic index (AI) and cardiac risk factor (CRF) were significantly lower in the PMG group. Blood glucose content was the lowest in the PMG-Ⅱ (189.37±12.02 ㎎/㎗) group among all groups tested. Total protein content was 9.56±0.87~10.05±2.69 mg/dl in the PMG-Ⅰ~Ⅲ groups and was significantly higher than the normal group. GPT activity did not show a significant difference among the experimental groups, while GOT activity was effective only in the PMG-Ⅰ group. Serum TBARS content in the PMG-Ⅲ group was lower than in the normal group. Serum antioxidant activity by DPPH radical scavenging was 83.75±2.32% in the PMG-Ⅲ group, which was significantly higher than the control group.

Serum Cholesterol Reduction by Quinoa Tempe, Quinoa Fermented with Rhizopus oligosporus, in Rats Fed with a Cholesterol-Free Diet

Serum Cholesterol Reduction by Quinoa Tempe, Quinoa Fermented with Rhizopus oligosporus, in Rats Fed with a Cholesterol-Free Diet

The mechanism of dietary cholesterol effects on lipids metabolism in rats

BackgroundCholesterol administration has been reported to influence hepatic lipid metabolism in rats. In the present study, the effect of dietary cholesterol on hepatic activity and mRNA expression of the enzymes involved in lipid metabolism were investigated. Fourteen male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 2 groups and fed 1% cholesterol or cholesterol free AIN76 diets for 4 weeks.ResultsThe serum triglyceride and high density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were significantly decreased but the total cholesterol and non high density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were significantly increased in the cholesterol-fed rats compared with the control rats. And the concentrations of the hepatic total cholesterol and triglyceride increased about 4-fold and 20-fold separately by dietary cholesterol. The activities of hepatic malic enzyme, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, fatty acid synthase, phosphatidate phophatase and carnitine palmitoyl transferase were depressed by the cholesterol feeding (40%, 70%, 50%, 15% and 25% respectively). The results of mRNA expression showed that fatty acid synthase, carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1, carnitine palmitoyl transferase 2, and HMG-CoA reductase were down-regulated (35%, 30%, 50% and 25% respectively) and acyl-CoA: cholesterol acyltransferase and cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase were up regulated (1.6 and 6.5 folds) in liver by the cholesterol administration.ConclusionsThe dietary cholesterol increased the triglyceride accumulation in liver, but did not stimulate the activity and the gene expression of hepatic enzymes related to triglyceride and fatty acid biosynthesis.

Effect of Fermented Bean Paste on Serum Lipids in Rats Fed a Cholesterol-Free Diet

We examined the effects of fermented bean pastes derived from bean vinegar by-products on serum cholesterol in rats. The rats were fed boiled paste from adzuki (A), kintoki (K), or tebou (T), or fermented paste from adzuki (AP), kintoki (KP), or tebou (TP) for 4 weeks. The serum non-high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels in all the experimental groups, except for A group, were significantly lower than in the control (CN) group. Likewise, the serum triglyceride levels in K and all the fermented bean groups were significantly lower than in the CN group. The levels of hepatic 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase mRNA in all the experimental groups except for A were significantly lower than in the CN group. These findings indicate that fermented bean pastes also suppress cholesterol synthesis, resulting in a reduced serum cholesterol concentration. These effects might be related not only to the resistant starch but also to the protein or peptide in the fermented bean paste.

Significant contributions of the extraembryonic membranes and maternal genotype to the placental pathology in heterozygous Nsdhl deficient female embryos

Mutations in the gene encoding the cholesterol biosynthetic enzyme NSDHL are associated with the X-linked male-lethal bare patches (Bpa) mouse. Mutant male embryos for several Nsdhl alleles die in midgestation with placental insufficiency. We examined here a possible role of the maternal genotype in such placental pathology. Pre-pregnancy plasma cholesterol levels were similar between wild-type (WT) and Bpa(1H)/+ dams fed a standard, cholesterol-free diet. However, there was a marked decrease in cholesterol levels between embryonic day (E)8.5 and E10.5 for both genotypes. Further, there was a significant lag between E11.5 and E13.5 (P = 0.0011) in the recovery of levels in Bpa(1H)/+ dams to their pre-pregnancy values. To investigate possible effects of the maternal genotype on fetal placentation, we generated transgenic mice that expressed human NSDHL and rescued the male lethality of the Bpa(1H) null allele. We then compared placenta area at E10.5 in WT and Bpa(1H)/+ female embryos where the mutant X chromosome was transmitted from a heterozygous mother or a rescued mutant father. In mutant conceptuses, placental areas were approximately 50% less than WT. Surprisingly, expression of Nsdhl in trophoblast lineages of the placenta and yolk sac endoderm, which occurs only from the maternally inherited allele in a female embryo, had the largest effect on placental area (-0.681 mm(2); P < 0.0001). The maternal genotype had a smaller effect, independent of the fetal genotype (-0.283 mm(2); P = 0.024). These data demonstrate significant effects of the mother and fetal membranes on pregnancy outcome, with possible implications for cholesterol homeostasis during human pregnancy.

Porcine artery elastin preparation reduces serum cholesterol level in rats

The effect of porcine artery elastin on serum cholesterol level was investigated in rats fed a cholesterol-free diet. Rats were fed for 4 weeks, with a diet (ED) containing 15% casein and 5% of porcine artery elastin in comparison with a diet (CD) containing 20% casein. The total serum and non-HDL-cholesterol concentrations were lower ( P < 0.001) in ED-fed group than the CD-fed group at the end of the experiment. Caecal propionate concentration and Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus population were higher ( P < 0.05) in ED-fed group than the CD-fed group. The results of this study suggest that porcine artery elastin could be considered as a functional dietary protein with hypocholesterolaemic ability. Favourable amino acid composition and lysine derived cross links may at least be partially responsible for the hypocholesterolaemic ability of ED. Moreover, the higher caecal propionic acid concentration in the ED-fed group may have suppressed the cholesterol synthesis in the liver, and reduced the serum cholesterol level.