(A–D) Mouse primary hepatocytes were incubated in media supplemented with BSA or BSA:oleate, in the presence or absence of 5 μmol/L simvastatin. The statin decreased TG accumulation, as measured by oil red O staining (A) and enzymatically (B). The relative mRNA (C) and protein (D) expression of hepatic perilipins in oleate-challenged hepatocytes was analysed in a parallel set of cells. Data are shown as mean ± SEM of 2 independent experiments in triplicate or quadruplicate, and were analysed by Student’s t-test. **P≤0.01, oleate vs. BSA. ¶P≤0.01, SMV vs. DMSO. (E–G) siRNA transfection of mouse primary hepatocytes showed that dose-dependent decrease in PLIN5 expression (E) was paralleled by a concomitant decrease in TG contents as measured enzymatically (F) and by oil red O staining (G). Data in F are mean ± SEM of 2 independent experiments in triplicate, and were analysed by one-way ANOVA and post hoc Tukey’s test. *P<0.05; **P<0.01