Fig. 4.

[³H]cholesterol distribution throughout the gut of C57 and FVB mice following olive oil gavage. Nonfasted female C57 and FVB mice were injected retro-orbitally with 100 μl tyloxapol (7.5% v/v) followed by gavage with 2 μCi [³H]cholesterol in 200 μl olive oil. After 2, 4, or 7 h (panels A–C), the entire gut length (stomach to colon) and excreted feces were harvested and divided into segments, with the small intestine divided into four equal-length segments (I1+ to I4+). Each segment was dissolved in 1 ml 1N NaOH, and [³H]cholesterol levels were measured by liquid scintillation counting. Significant differences between strains are represented by * P < 0.05 or # P < 0.01.