title: Gender-related difference in altered gene expression of a sterol regulatory element binding protein, SREBP-2, by lead nitrate in rats: correlation with development of hypercholesterolemia.
abstract: Changes in gene expression levels of hepatic sterol regulatory element binding protein-2 (SREBP-2) and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGR) after a single i.v. injection of lead nitrate (LN, 100 micromol kg(-1) body weight) were examined comparatively by real time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in male and female rats. Significant increases in the gene expression level of SREBP-2, a transcription factor for the HMGR gene, occurred at 6-12 h in male and at 24-36 h in female rats after LN-treatment. The gene expression level of HMGR, a rate-limiting enzyme for cholesterol biosynthesis, significantly increased at 3-48 h in male rats and 12-48 h in female rats. Subsequently, significant increases in the amount of hepatic total cholesterol in male and female rats were also observed at 3-48 h and 24-48 h, respectively. The present findings demonstrate that increases in gene expressions of hepatic SREBP-2 and HMGR and the amount of hepatic total cholesterol by LN occur earlier in male rats than in the females, and that increases in the gene expression level of HMGR and the amount of hepatic total cholesterol occur prior to the increase in the gene expression level of SREBP-2 in either sex of rats.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Animal Gene Function, Department of Physiology and Genetic Regulation, Institute of Insect and Animal Sciences, National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan. misaki@affrc.go.jp
authors.forename: Misaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kojima
authors.forename: Masakuni
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Degawa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D006903:Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007854:Lead / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D009566:Nitrates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012737:Sex Factors; D051782:Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D009566:Nitrates; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051782:Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 2; D007854:Lead; C017461:lead nitrate; D002784:Cholesterol; D006903:Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases