Fig. 5.

Mice lacking GDF3, unlike those lacking ALK7, display normal insulinemia and insulin sensitivity. (A) Insulin serum levels after overnight fasting in 5-month-old WT (n = 16), Alk7^−/− (n = 11), and Gdf3^−/− (n = 9) mice. (B) Insulin tolerance test of 5-month-old WT (n = 9), Alk7^−/− (n = 6), and Gdf3^−/− (n = 9) mice maintained on chow diet. (C) Wet liver weight of 5-month-old WT (chow, n = 28; high-fat diet, n = 54), Alk7^−/− (chow, n = 13; high-fat diet, n = 24), and Gdf3^−/− (chow, n = 16; high-fat diet, n = 29) mice after being subjected to chow or high-fat diet. (D) Histological analysis of liver sections from 2-month-old WT, Alk7^−/−, and Gdf3^−/− mice by Oil red-O staining. Results are shown as mean ± SEM. *, P ≤ 0.05; **, P < 0.01; ***, P < 0.001 (Student's t test). (Scale bar, 100 μm.)