title: Cholesterol metabolism in rat is affected by protocatechuic acid.
abstract: The effects of protocatechuic acid on serum cholesterol and gene expression related to cholesterol metabolism in rats were investigated. Rats were fed a cholesterol-free diet with or without 5 g protocatechuic acid/kg diet for 4 wk. There were no significant differences in body weight and food intake among groups through the experimental period. The liver weight in the protocatechuic acid group was significantly lower than that in the control group. The serum total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL)+intermediate density lipoprotein (IDL)+low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol concentrations in the protocatechuic acid group were significantly lower than those in the control group through the feeding period. The hepatic cholesterol concentration in the protocatechuic acid group was significantly higher than in the control group at the end of the 4-wk feeding period. The relative hepatic LDL receptor, apo B, apo E, lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) and hepatic triglyceride lipase (HTGL) mRNA levels in the protocatechuic acid group were significantly higher than those in the control group. The results of this study suggest the possibility that the increase in the hepatic LDL receptor, apo E, LCAT and HTGL guessed by these mRNAs increase in the protocatechuic acid group lowers the serum total cholesterol level.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
authors.forename: Akiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tamura
authors.forename: Michihiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fukushima
authors.forename: Ken-ichiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shimada
authors.forename: Kyu-Ho
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Mitsuo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sekikawa
authors.forename: Shoko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Masuo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakano
authors.forename: Megumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: Hideyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chiji
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001055:Apolipoproteins B / Q000235:genetics; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D015243:Cholesterol, VLDL / Q000097:blood; D004435:Eating; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects*; D062385:Hydroxybenzoates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008049:Lipase / Q000235:genetics; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D007862:Phosphatidylcholine-Sterol O-Acyltransferase / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D011973:Receptors, LDL / Q000235:genetics; D015430:Weight Gain
chemical_list: D001055:Apolipoproteins B; D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D015243:Cholesterol, VLDL; D062385:Hydroxybenzoates; D008074:Lipoproteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011973:Receptors, LDL; C030104:lipoprotein cholesterol; C009091:protocatechuic acid; D002784:Cholesterol; D007862:Phosphatidylcholine-Sterol O-Acyltransferase; D008049:Lipase