Figure 2.

 Protein expression of hepatic transporters in eight and 14 week old lean and obese Zucker rats (ZR). (A) Multidrug resistant associated protein 2 (Mrp2), bile salt export pump (Bsep), and multidrug resistant associated protein 3 (Mrp3) protein levels in plasma membrane fractions of lean and obese ZR livers. Approximately 50 μg of membrane proteins were subjected to sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and transferred onto a nitrocellulose membrane. Immunoblotting was performed and bound antibodies were visualised as described in materials and methods. Each band represents the results of a single animal. Transport proteins are indicated on the left of each blot and animal groups at the top. Representative experiments with four rats per group are shown. β-Actin protein mass was used as a loading control. (B) Bar diagram showing western blot band volume as per cent of control for Mrp2, Bsep, and Mrp3. *p<0.05.